Supersonic business jet
A supersonic business jet (SSBJ) is a small business jet, intended to travel at speeds above Mach 1.0. Typically intended to transport about ten passengers, SSBJs are about the same size as traditional subsonic business jets. Larger commercial supersonic transports such as the Aérospatiale/British Aerospace Concorde and Tupolev Tu-144 'Charger' were frought with high costs, and noise and environmental concerns. Several manufacturers (notably Cessna) believe that many of these concerns can be dealt with at a smaller scale. In addition, it is believed that small groups of high-value passengers (such as executives or heads of state) will find value in higher speed transport.
No SSBJs are currently available, but several manufacturers are working on or have worked on designs:
- Aerion SBJ
- Cessna design of unknown nature.
- Supersonic Aerospace International QSST
- Sukhoi-Gulfstream S-21
- Tupolev Tu-444
References
- "Supersonic Business Jets Announced." Flug Revue. December, 2004.
- "Bizjets a ‘commodity’ says Teal Group study." Kirby J. Harrison, Aviation International News. 2001.
- "Supersonic business jet announcement at NBAA." Ken Vandruf, Wichita Business Journal. September 27, 2004.