"We believe that Mach 1.6 is the new speed of leadership," commented Aerion Vice Chairman Brian Barents. "Sheik. Rashid will be one of the first world leaders to routinely fly above the speed of sound. We are extremely honored by this tangible endorsement of Aerion and its groundbreaking supersonic design."
"This week we have seen orders for the biggest and the fastest airplanes," commented Sheik Rashid. "In the new global economy there is a place for both. For me, speed confers great advantages. It will simply speed up the pace of business activities, and allow me to take key business associates to more places, discussing more investment opportunities."
Aerion announced on Sunday 11 November, at the opening of the Dubai AirShow, that it was opening the order book for its innovative Aerion jet, appointing Zurich, Switzerland ExecuJet as its international sales agent outside the Americas. Interest since then has been strong and a number of discussions are underway. Aerion and ExecuJet expect this will lead to further sales as a result of discussions initiated at the Dubai Show.
On behalf of Aerion, ExecuJet is now offering 40 early delivery positions to customers for a per-aircraft launch price of US$80 million in 2007 dollars. The Aerion supersonic business jet was formally unveiled in October 2004. Since then, wind tunnel and other tests have taken the aircraft to an advanced stage of design. To formally launch the program and begin construction, Aerion is seeking to recruit a well regarded aircraft manufacturer to serve as program integrator. Aerion is in discussions with candidate companies and anticipates an agreement within the first half of 2008.
That would allow the Aerion supersonic jet to enter service as soon as 2014. The Aerion jet is designed to cruise at speeds up to 1.15 Mach overland without producing a boom on the ground, and at speeds up to 1.6 Mach in other areas. Over the continental U.S., where regulations require speeds below Mach 1, the aircraft can cruise efficiently just below the speed of sound, offering economies comparable to today's large business jets. The aircraft seats eight to 12 passengers in stand-up comfort and has a range in excess of 4,000 nautical miles.
Aerion Corporation of Reno, Nevada is an advanced engineering group formed in 2002 to reintroduce commercial supersonic flight. Aerion continues research begun more than 15 years ago, with the current focus on the design of a practical and efficient supersonic business jet employing patented natural laminar flow technology.
Aerion's board includes: Robert M. Bass, chairman of Aerion and president of investment group Keystone, Inc; Brian E. Barents, vice chairman of Aerion and former president and CEO of Galaxy Aerospace and Learjet; Dr. Richard R. Tracy, who has pioneered the supersonic natural laminar wing concept and serves as Aerion's chief technology officer; Michael L. Henderson, COO of Aerion and Boeing's former program manager for high-speed civil transport; and Robert L. Morse Jr., a principal of Oak Hill Capital Management, Inc.
-Ends-
ExecuJet Aviation Group
Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the ExecuJet Aviation Group has facilities and operations across four principal territories; Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australasia, providing tailored business aviation transportation solutions. ExecuJet is a Bombardier Business Aircraft sales representative in 33 countries and represents Grob Aerospace sp business jet aircraft sales globally outside North America. Other services offered include aircraft management, completions management, aircraft charter, aircraft maintenance and FBO facilities. ExecuJet currently manages a fleet of over 110 aircraft, half of which are available for charter from key Middle Eastern, European, African and Australasian bases. ExecuJet's modern fleet is strategically operated under the umbrella of six regional civil aviation issued air operating certificates.
For more information, contact:
For Aerion:Jeff Miller
Blake-Miller Communications
office: (0)1-214-468-0980
cell: (0)1-817-291-2234
jeff.miller@blake-miller.com
At the Dubai AirShow:
James Stewart
Aerion Chief Financial Officer
(01) 514-826-9481
Brian Barents
Aerion Chairman
(01) 760-333-1759
For ExecuJet at the Dubai AirShow:
Juliane von Heimendahl
ExecuJet Aviation Group
office: +41 44 876 56 89
cell: +41 76 456 82 51
juliane.von.heimendahl@execujet.eu
Alison Chambers
Emerald Media
office: +44 1962 736600
cell: +44 7721 882939
alison@emeraldmedia.co.uk
Press Release 2007
