Boeing Co has made a ‘significant investment’ in supersonic aircraft startup Aerion Corp.
Aerion is developing a supersonic business jet called the AS2 which could theoretically cut hours off long-distance flights.
It would be ‘a new era of supersonic travel’ the companies said, and mark the first commercial service since the demise of Concorde.
As part of the deal, Boeing will get two seats on the Aerion Board.
The AS2 could fly at speeds of up to Mach 1.4 over land and could launch by 2023.
However, it won’t be an option for the masses.
The AS2 will seat around 12 passengers.
It has a list price of $120 million and expects to manufacture 300 during the first decade of production.
The Boeing tie-up is Aerion’s third with a major manufacturer but the first time it has secured direct funding.
Aerion previously collaborated with Airbus and a contract with Lockheed Martin recently expired.
