Supersonic cabin craftsmanship
To complement the sleek exterior of the Aerion AS2 business jet, F/LIST is planning a luxurious interior featuring sustainably sourced materials. Words: Yuvan Kumar
IT IS NOW 17 years since Concorde was retired and supersonic commercial flight ended. Despite the stunning technical achievement, anyone who flew on a Concorde will confirm that cabin was a disappointment. Aerion Supersonic, the supersonic business jet manufacturer, says this is not a mistake it will repeat with its AS2. Passengers will be able to travel at Mach 1.4 (1,074mph) in a luxurious low noise cabin.
Tim Fagan, head of Industrial Design and Cabin Experience, Aerion Supersonic, says the partners are drawing valuable lessons from Concorde. But the interior of the Aerion AS2 will meet 21st century standards of luxury.
“The Concorde was a bold, noble experiment and a major milestone in the history of aircraft development,” says Fagan. “Culturally it was (and remains) an icon of ambition and excellence in aviation as well as luxury; it is a source of great inspiration. From a design perspective, the Concorde design compromised in cabin space and comfort,” he said.
Tim Fagan, Aerion Supersonic, and colleagues are determined not to compromise on cabin space and comfort.
‘THREE HOURS OR LESS’
Delivering sustainable luxury, using recycled materials where possible, is the design mission for F/LIST. The AS2 business jet aims to connect any two points on the Earth in “three hours or less”. It has already received pre-order interest to the tune of $7bn, according to Aerion.
Now, nearly 50 years on from the first Concorde flight, Aerion is planning to fly the AS2 supersonic business jet in 2025 with first delivery in 2027. After recruiting industry partners such as Boeing, GE, Spirit AeroSystems, Safran, BAE, Honeywell, Aernnova Aerospace, GKN, and Raytheon Technologies, the company hopes to launch production in 2023.
For its cabin craftsmanship, Aerion has partnered with luxury interior manufacturer F/LIST, which draws upon its experience with aircraft, yachts and luxury residences for this project.
Mélanie Prince, senior adviser, Advanced Research, F/LIST, said: “F/LIST has the technical knowledge to demonstrate that sustainable materials do not have to be a compromise.”
Both companies are dedicated to a sustainable supersonic future featuring environmentally sustainable materials.
“As part of our environmental commitment, we develop new materials such as recycled plant-based decorative materials and sustainable wood veneers. The AS2 will demonstrate that sustainable materials do not have to be a compromise. They can look, feel and perform better than traditional materials.”
F/LIST will use woods from both trees as well as natural leftovers from existing production processes. Its sustainability team has members with a background in chemistry, specialising in sustainable materials and processes.
SUSTAINABLY SOURCED
Mélanie Prince, senior adviser, Advanced Research, F/LIST told CJI: “As part of our environmental commitment, we develop new materials such as recycled plant-based decorative materials and sustainable wood veneers.” F/LIST has the technical knowledge, to demonstrate that sustainable materials do not have to be a compromise, added Prince.
The AS2 is predicted to have the lowest cabin altitude of any business jet.
The AS2 is predicted to have the lowest cabin altitude of any business jet.
Fagan said that the AS2 will be as quiet as a traditional business jet. To achieve this, the AS2 is being modelled with analytical software that inputs all the noise and vibration sources that contribute to cabin noise. It will then be used for treatment trade studies and overall cabin noise prediction.
He said: “These findings will inform our selection of noise-blocking and sound-absorbing materials in the cabin interior, playing a key role in creating a whisper quiet cabin. Cabin interior furnishing and covering selections will also play a role – soft, sound absorbing materials within the cabin can lower the sound levels even further.”
The AS2 will also have the lowest cabin altitude of any business jet, according to Fagan.
The company will be targeting the business jet market. Its goal is to connect any two points on the Earth in “three hours or less”. The business has already received pre-order interest to the tune of $7bn.
“The AS2 will be the fastest – 150% faster than today’s leading offerings – but also the first aircraft to run on 100% synthetic fuels while also offering a cabin experience like no other,” Fagan said.
In a move not directly related to the AS2 project, F/LIST recently joined an international research consortium, BioForS, which is dedicated to introducing renewable materials into aviation interiors. Patrick Domnanich, director Research & Development, F/LIST, said: “We aim to make aviation more sustainable. In this project, we tackle the challenge of bringing green and renewable materials into the aircraft cabin.”
Meanwhile, Aerion hopes to channel that same innovative spirit and drive that the Concorde pioneered. Fagan said it hopes to make “AS2 a part of aviation history – a step into the future of speed and global connectivity and the future of luxury”.
Maybe someday, when you are on a sub-five-hour London to New York flight, you will be able to confirm that speed and a luxury experience do not need to be mutually exclusive.
