GKN Aerospace named key supplier for Aerion Supersonic business jet

 

Aerion Supersonic (Reno, Nev., U.S.), leader in supersonic technology, reports that GKN Aerospace (Redditch, U.K.) will design the empennage and electrical wiring and interconnection systems (EWIS) for the AS2 supersonic business jet. 

According to GKN Aerospace, design activities have already started on-site at Aerion in Reno, Nev., U.S., and in GKN Aerospace’s engineering centers in the Netherlands and Romania. 

“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,” says John Pritchard, CEO of GKN Aerospace ASEA.

Aerion’s AS2 is reported to be the first 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,” says Tom Vice, Aerion CEO. “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.”

GKN Aerospace is a multi-technology Tier 1 aerospace supplier company, specializing in developing, building and supplying a range of advanced aerospace systems, components and technologies. See the company’s CompositesWorld showroom for more recent CW coverage.