Update Report
Aerion pursues design refinement and discussions with potential partners
Since its public unveiling in 2004, the design of the Aerion supersonic business jet has been refined and validated through high-order computer analysis and wind tunnel testing.
Meanwhile, the company continues to build its business case, providing a more detailed financial picture of the costs, risks and rewards involved in program participation.
Large-scale wing section is propelled to Mach 1.6 in two seconds in rocket-sled test.
Business update
The company has held talks with major aerospace firms as well as government agencies on three continents. Discussions are ongoing, and much will hinge on the refined business case presented by Aerion, and on the available financial resources and strategic objectives of potential partners.
Potential partners have expressed great interest in the concept of supersonic laminar flow and the patented technology developed by Aerion in this area, viewing it as a key enabling technology for the development of an efficient supersonic aircraft.
As Aerion continues to build its team, it has hired James Stewart as chief financial officer. Stewart was formerly chief financial officer at Bombardier Aerospace and has extensive experience in establishing the financial case for new aircraft development programs. The company projects a five-year program from the launch of the detailed design effort to certification.
“We anticipate discussions to continue into 2007, with the expectation that we will reach agreement with major project partners in the coming year,” said Brian Barents, vice chairman of Aerion.
“The aerospace community is seeing the seriousness with which we are pursuing this program, and continues to express high interest as we flesh out the details,” said Barents. “The Aerion board has funded the program through launch with external partners, and we expect that to occur before the next NBAA convention.”
Technical update
- Configuration optimization: While performance and size parameters of the aircraft have changed little in the last year, optimization continues on such complex areas as engine inlets and exhaust nozzles, as well as the nacelle/airframe integration. In particular, the aft fuselage and nacelle external lines are being computationally optimized for drag in the presence of the hot exhaust flow. Tail size and geometry are also the subject of optimization in conjunction with computational stability and control evaluations based on previous wind tunnel tests. The net result of this work is to improve the Aerion jet's supersonic and transonic range performance.
- Noise analysis: Aerion is using noise reduction technology developed by Pratt & Whitney and more recently by Aviation Fleet Solutions, which has certified the JT8D-219 to Stage 4/Chapter 4 on the MD-80 series. Joint studies with Pratt & Whitney and Aviation Fleet Solutions indicate that the Aerion supersonic business jet's noise levels will be well within Stage 4/Chapter 4 limits.
- Emissions: Work by Pratt Whitney on advanced combustor technology will be incorporated in the Aerion production version of the JT8D-219, resulting in low emissions meeting CAEP 6 requirements.
- Systems: Aerion has worked with Argo Tech (now Eaton), and UTC to develop systems architecture and sizing for fuel, electrical and hydraulic power distribution, flight controls, pressurization, environmental controls, anti-icing and landing gear.
- Icing: Icing of the thin wing leading edge has been evaluated at the Cox and Company icing tunnel in Manhattan, New York. This test evaluated ice buildup on the wing outboard of the strakes under the worst case icing conditions. The tests indicated that icing does not have a significant effect on the Aerion outer wing panels and tail surfaces. Other portions of the aircraft (for example, nose, engine inlets and strakes) will require conventional anti-icing systems.
- Structures: Work continues to optimize wing thickness-to-chord ratio for strength and aeroelastic performance. Sophisticated proprietary computational models are being used in this effort. In addition to FEM based strength anslysis and optimization, this study includes a high-order (Euler coupled to dynamic FEM) flutter and divergence analysis, to assure flutter margin. The resulting wing weight is within the overall weight targets.
- Aerodynamic testing: The company is continuing its program of rocket sled testing for analyzing full-scale aerodynamic effects. Three test runs have been made to develop test equipment and techniques, the last up to Mach 1.5 and full-scale aerodynamic conditions (Reynolds numbers). The tests have verified the ability to conduct such sled tests in support of production design data needs. Aerion also expects to use additional methods of aerodynamic validation, such as tri-sonic wind tunnel tests, and additional low speed wind tunnel tests to augment the 3 test series already done at the Univ of Washington Wind Tunnel.
- Cockpit development: Aerion has constructed an engineering mockup of the cockpit to test physical clearances, equipment layout and pilot comfort.
- Certification: FAA headquarters officials were briefed on the Aerion program. They were pleasantly surprised by the Aerion jet's ability to operate within current FAA and ICAO rules. They expressed confidence that airspace issues would not pose problems for the aircraft. Follow-up meetings are planned.