Aerion has teamed with Pratt & Whitney to adapt the latest generation of the proven and ubiquitous JT8D engine for the supersonic business jet. The JT8D to be employed on the SBJ will incorporate some of the recently developed and patented noise suppression technology to achieve Stage 4 noise requirements. The engine has been selected for the U.S. Air Force JSTARS program, ensuring long-term production availability. 

The JT8D-219 has a maximum static thrust of 21,700 pounds, but is derated to 19,600 pounds of thrust for use on the Aerion SBJ, allowing sustained supersonic cruise at speeds up to Mach 1.6 with excellent durability. As a result of analysis by Pratt & Whitney, assuming 60 percent supersonic flight time, initial TBO is projected to be 3,000 hours. Pratt & Whitney is assisting in engine/airframe integration, applying its considerable knowledge of supersonic design. Powering one-sixth of the world’s airliners, the JT8D has logged over a 650 million reliable hours giving Aerion high confidence in meeting performance and cost efficiency objectives, while minimizing development cost and risk.

An Environmentally Sensitive Supersonic Jet The new generation of the Pratt & Whitney JT8D powering the Aerion jet will meet the latest ICAO standards for nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, as well as Stage 4/Chapter 4 noise regulations. The engine will incorporate state-of-the-art component technologies, including an all-new combustion section. 

Because the Aerion jet is designed to cruise at a maximum altitude of 51,000 feet, it will travel in the lowest part of the stratosphere, and therefore avoid cruising in the fragile ozone layer, which begins above about 60,000 feet and reaches a maximum concentration at about 80,000 feet. In short, its impact on the environment will be no greater than the current generation of quiet, efficient, low-emissions business jets in development today.