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Month: February 2019

Supersonic Passenger Travel to Return

Supersonic Passenger Travel to Return

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Supersonic Passenger Travel to Return

Posted on February 6, 2019 by admin

Remember the Concorde? It made a lot of noise but it was a dream come true for aviation fans. Now, Boeing and Aerion companies are making a lot of noise about the return of Supersonic flight for real people.

Here’s what well-known blogger Sam Choi (samchoi.com) has to say about the plans for a new Supersonic Passenger Jet.

BOEING AND AERION TO WORK ON SUPERSONIC TRAVEL TOGETHER

AARON HILSZ-LOTHIANFEBRUARY 6, 2019

AVIATION NEWSBOEINGPRIVATE JET0 COMMENTS

Boeing and Aerion to work on supersonic travel together

Aerion, an aircraft manufacturing company based in Reno, Nevada, has signed an agreement with Boeing which will see the two companies work together to send the world’s first supersonic business jet into the skies above.

Boeing will provide financial support to the program as well as engineering, flight test and industrial resources to the Aerion AS2 supersonic business jet program. Additionally, Boeing has made a significant investment in Aerion to accelerate the technology advancements and the design stage, however no details about the investment have been disclosed by either sides.

From the beginning, Aerion has targeted an aircraft that can fly at speeds up to Mach 1.4 (roughly 1000 miles per hour) while at the same time meeting all current and upcoming environmental performance requirements. First flight is scheduled for June 2023 which is close to the 20th anniversary of the Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde retirement.

For a Concorde trip report, see this article Sam Chui wrote dating back to 2003:

Review: Supersonic Concorde The Ultimate Flight Experience

Capacity wise, the aircraft will be able to propel 12 passengers at that speed and efficiency, all while featuring a state-of-the-art cockpit designed by Honeywell and a new luxurious cabin, as seen in the photos below.

AS2 Supersonic Business Jet Cabin

Steve Nordlund, Vice President and General Manager of Boeing NeXt, reflected on the partnership in the following statement.

“Boeing is leading a mobility transformation that will safely and efficiently connect the world faster than ever before. This is a strategic and disciplined leading-edge investment in further maturing supersonic technology. Through this partnership that combines Aerion’s supersonic expertise with Boeing’s global industrial scale and commercial aviation experience, we have the right team to build the future of sustainable supersonic flight.”

Since its launch in 2014, Aerion has had an interesting partnership lineup for the supersonic business jet project. The launch saw the company partner with Airbus to work on a a new design, however it was announced Airbus dropped out and Lockheed would takeover. Lockheed was officially announced as a partner in 2017, however has also departed with the announcement of this news.

General Electric (GE) will be the engine supplier for the aircraft, launching their Affinity turbofan engine in 2017. The engine completed its its initial design stage in 2018 and will now progress to more advanced stages including prototype production.

GE Affinity Engine

Based of the renowned CFM56 engine that is commonly known for powering the Boeing 737 NG and Airbus A320ceo Families, the engine will not feature afterburners, however will be capable of delivering up to 18,000lbs of thrust.

The following table outlines some key specifications:

Type

Twin-shaft, medium bypass, non-afterburning

Fan Diameter

1.33m (52in)

Maximum Thrust

80kN (18,000lb)

Bypass Ratio

~3:1

At altitudes of 50,000ft, the engine is capable of propelling the aircraft at Mach 1.4 with 3,500lbs (16kN) of thrust. Compared to the CFM56-5 operating at Mach 0.78, the engine uses 50% more fuel. The AS2 Supersonic Jet will be a tri-jet design.

“Aerion is the industry leader mapping out a successful, sustainable return to supersonic flight. The AS2 is the launch point for the future of regulatory-compliant and efficient supersonic flight. Together with Boeing, we’re creating a faster, more connected future with tremendous possibilities for enhancing humanity’s productivity and potential.”

– Tom Vice, Chairman, President and Chief Executive of Aerion.

Flexjet will be the launch customer for the aircraft, with an order for 20 of the AS2 aircraft. Each listing at $US120 million, the deal is worth $US1.4 billion providing no launch discounts were applied.

Aerion will continue to work hard on the aircraft, utilizing the support they’ll be receiving from Boeing and previous statistics and knowledge from other programs in the military and from the Concorde.

Despite strict noise rules, Aerion is confident they can get the jet off the ground and continue where the Concorde left off.

Thanks for stopping by, John 

Happy flying!

:)

1 Way to Get Another Passport

1 Way to Get Another Passport

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Have you ever wondered if you could have two passports like a citizen of the world? Well, if you have enough investment funds you can. Read on.

From our friends at Travel and Leisure.

You Can Legally Buy a Passport From Another Country — If You Can Afford the Investment (Video)

https://secure.brightcove.com/services/mobile/streaming/index/master.m3u8?videoId=5990074872001&pubId=3281700261001&secure=true

You Can Legally Buy a Passport From Another Country — If You Can Afford the Investment
If you have enough money, you truly could become a citizen of the world.

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If you have enough money, you truly could become a citizen of the world.

“For a lot of wealthy people having a second or third passport is important for the ability to travel,” Nuri Katz, an advisor on the matter, told Business Insider. “For some it’s also a status symbol, like buying a fancy car to show your friends.”

Purchasing a second (or even third) passport is a growing trend among the wealthy. But it’s not an option for everyone and it doesn’t work everywhere. This type of program is called “citizenship by investment” (or CIPs) and is available in a number of countries around the world.

Related: Why the U.S. Passport Keeps Getting Weaker (Video)

While some may use the second passport to travel to destinations that may be off-limits (or even just difficult to reach) with their first, many others use the documentation to buy residencies in countries where the taxes are lower. Why some opt for CIPs over residency permits is that citizenship is more permanent. It cannot be taken away — unless, of course, the person in question has committed some very serious crime.

Countries involved in these types of programs are looking to recruit wealthy foreign investors to invigorate local economy. This may bring to mind images of places like Barbados or Grenada — but the United States has its own version of this, too. Costs to get involved can range anywhere from $3,000 per year in Thailand to an investment of $1 million in an American enterprise. In Caribbean countries — like Antigua, St. Kitts or St. Lucia — it’s likely to cost between $100,000 and $150,000. Some countries, like the UK, may stipulate that an applicant must have lived in the country for a few years before submitting a CIP proposal.

To find more information on how to invest in a second citizenship, simply search whichever country you’re interested in (there are many) and “CIPs” or “citizenship by investment.” Each participating country has quite specific rules and different regulations for applying. Although there’s always one thing in common: be prepared to pay.