Aerion Supersonic, a leader in supersonic technology, has selected GKN Aerospace as a supplier on the AS2 supersonic business jet.
GKN Aerospace will design the empennage and the electrical wiring and interconnection systems (EWIS) for the AS2. Design activities have already started on-site at Aerion in Reno, Nevada and in GKN Aerospace’s engineering centers in the Netherlands and Romania.
GKN Aerospace is a leading multi-technology tier 1 aerospace supplier company, specializing in developing, building and supplying an extensive range of advanced aerospace systems, components and technologies.
“We are excited to collaborate with Aerion and to support the preliminary design phase of this all-new supersonic AS2 business jet. As technology leaders in both electrical wiring interconnect system (EWIS) and business jet empennages, we can bring unrivaled knowledge and expertise to the project,” said John Pritchard CEO GKN Aerospace ASEA.
Aerion’s AS2 is the first-ever privately built supersonic commercial aircraft. The 12-passenger business jet is scheduled to begin flight testing in 2024.
“Aligning with industry leading partners is key to making sustainable supersonic travel a reality,” said Aerion CEO Tom Vice. “GKN Aerospace brings more than 100 years of aerospace development and extraordinary aerostructures expertise, including thermoplastic composites and electrical wiring systems, to our AS2 supersonic business aircraft.”
In September 2019, Boeing joined the development program to provide engineering, manufacturing and flight test resources to supersonic-aircraft developer Aerion to help the startup bring its business jet to market.
