自2014年起，Aerion和空客集團開始合作進行AS2超音速公務機的研發(fā)。這一合作正越來越引人注目， Flexjet于2015年11月中旬宣布，將訂購20架AS2飛機，這是該項目接到的首筆確定訂單。
AS2可容納8到12名乘客，在超音速模式下洲際航程將達4750海里。與亞音速飛機相比，AS2飛越大西洋的時間可以縮短3小時，而橫跨太平洋的時間則可縮短6個多小時。預計這款三引擎飛機將于2021年首飛，并于2023年投入使用。
Flexjet的主要提供小型噴氣機運營和租賃服務，公司董事長Kenn Ricci 稱：“我們認為，Aerion的先進技術和AS2飛機的高性能有望改變整個商務機市場。” Aerion和 Flexjet將共同為AS2飛機設計內飾。
空客與Aerion自2014年首次合作組建工程隊伍以來，一直致力于打造1.5倍音速的AS2機型，雙方的合作“低調但卻進展穩(wěn)健”。
西班牙的空客D&S（Airbus Defense & Space）公司負責設計AS2的機身構造、電傳飛控系統(tǒng)、綜合燃料系統(tǒng)和起落裝置，他們的工作也取得了一定進展。目前已經完成初步設計的部分包括10翼梁碳纖維機翼結構、機身和尾翼結構、接合型主起落架系統(tǒng)（該起落架收起時可以最大程度地節(jié)省機身空間），以及采用了數(shù)字化線傳飛控（fly-by-wire）技術的燃油系統(tǒng)，可以更好地控制重心。
AS2的飛行控制設計將會利用其體積小功能強大的執(zhí)行器集成入AS2纖薄的飛行表面中。為了支持整個設計過程，空客D&S制作了一個鈦金屬機翼前沿部分的樣板，用于進行評估。同時，公司正在對復合材料樣品進行測試，希望進一步優(yōu)化材料性能。
Aerion主要負責其他系統(tǒng)的研發(fā)工作，包括航電設備、電氣系統(tǒng)、環(huán)境控制、液壓和輔助動力等等。Aerion與空客D&S公司對各個系統(tǒng)進行了初步的空間分配，充分考慮了機身重量和平衡等因素。候選供應商名單已經確定，現(xiàn)已進入甄選階段。
去年9月，來自Aerion、空客D&S、空客集團以及其他一級供應商的高級工程人員來到位于內華達州里諾市的Aerion總部，進行了為期4天的技術和項目評估，內容涵蓋飛機結構飛機系統(tǒng)方面目前已完成的所有工程設計。
“本次設計評估結果證明，經過過去一年的努力，我們已經由概念設計階段進入Aerion技術商業(yè)化的階段，”Aerion飛機研發(fā)高級副總裁Mike Hinderberger表示，“目前我們正在進行工程設計，到2020年左右，將會實現(xiàn)超音速飛機的制造與飛行。”
就目前的情況來看，發(fā)動機研發(fā)進展將決定AS2機型2021年是否能順利首飛。飛機最初設計時所選擇的是普惠公司（Pratt & Whitney）的JT8D引擎，但工程師們正在尋找更先進的發(fā)動機。
Aerion首席執(zhí)行官Doug Nichols表示：“我們的目標是在2016年上半年選定推進系統(tǒng)，這樣項目很快就可以正式啟動。”
Aerion已經選定了適合改裝的核心發(fā)動機，在改裝后可以滿足超音速飛行的要求。
“我們會繼續(xù)進行發(fā)動機的研發(fā)工作，致力于通過最小的改動滿足需要達到的性能要求，”Nichols表示，“目前，Aerion正努力尋找一種解決方案，既能達到4級噪聲標準，又能保持遠距離超音速飛行的要求。對于低雙路式渦輪噴氣式超音速發(fā)動機來說，這是個巨大挑戰(zhàn)。但現(xiàn)今的發(fā)動機技術應該可以讓我們找到好的解決方案。”
Aerion表示，AS2飛機可以滿足當前的法規(guī)要求，并實現(xiàn)高效運行，飛機也符合陸地上空超音速飛行的相關規(guī)定。這得益于AS2的優(yōu)良性能——飛機可以以接近音速的速度（0.95-0.98馬赫）高效運行；在允許超音速飛機飛行的水面上空以及其他區(qū)域，飛行速度最高可達1.5馬赫（音速的1.5倍）。“無論在亞音速飛行還是超音速飛行模式下，飛機的表現(xiàn)都十分優(yōu)秀，”Hinderberg表示，該機型“更像一架戰(zhàn)斗機，而非商務機。”
在合作之初，空客對Aerion的層流分析軟件工具表現(xiàn)出了濃厚興趣。該工具可用于分析高速氣流，優(yōu)化機身。Hinderberg表示，事實上，合作項目的“首要目標就是對自然層流和波阻帶來的影響進行優(yōu)化。”
“飛機和研發(fā)項目主要由Aerion負責，但空客集團也獲益良多，”空客集團戰(zhàn)略與企業(yè)發(fā)展部門高級副總裁Ken McKenzie表示，“我們掌握了新型的技術和工具。通過合作，我們獲得了更豐富的工程和制造工藝知識，比如數(shù)字制造技術等。AS2項目將成為創(chuàng)新設計、創(chuàng)新工程和創(chuàng)新制造的孵化器。”
Nichols表示，“Aerion已經正式開始在美國為AS2的生產工廠選址。”
Nichols說：“目前，我們正在尋找一個最理想的廠區(qū)，其中需要一個面積100英畝以上的機場以及長度在9000英尺以上的跑道，同時還要滿足一些特殊地理條件要求。”其中的一個條件是，在該地點200海里以內有一個適合超音速飛行測試區(qū)，如果是在海上則更優(yōu)。
Aerion還將評估多方面因素，包括機場的適合程度、公路和鐵路基礎設施、到達運輸大型結構和設備所需的深水港的距離、當?shù)氐暮娇债a業(yè)勞動力水平、國家和地方法規(guī)，以及當?shù)厣钏郊敖逃降取?/p>
Aerion預計將于2016年上半年宣布裝配工廠的地址，屆時也將正式啟動AS2項目。廠區(qū)建設將于2018年動工。
空客集團將提供飛機主要部件，最后的總裝工作由Aerion負責。雙方致力于建立一個長期的合作關系，旨在為項目提供持續(xù)的技術支持。Aerion也將向空客集團學習專業(yè)知識，以支持其新工廠的建立。
作者：Jean L. Broge
來源：SAE《航空工程》雜志
翻譯：SAE 上海辦公室
Aerion progresses on the AS2 with help from Airbus, and announces first fleet customer
The joint engineering efforts that Aerion and Airbus Group have dedicated to the AS2 supersonic business jet since 2014 has taken on even more importance as it was announced in mid-November that aircraft has received its first firm order for 20 from Flexjet.
Carrying eight to 12 passengers, the AS2 will have an intercontinental-capable range of 4750 nmi at supersonic speed, saving three hours across the Atlantic vs. subsonic aircraft and more than six hours on longer trans-Pacific routes. The three-engine jet will make its first flight in 2021 and enter service in 2023.
“We see Aerion's technology and the AS2's performance capabilities as potential game-changers for business travel,” said Flexjet Chairman Kenn Ricci. Flexjet offers fractional jet ownership and leasing. Aerion and Flexjet will work together to design the interiors for the AS2s
In terms of Airbus and Aerion working together, the two companies have been proceeding “quietly, but steadily” on the Mach 1.5 AS2 since the first joint engineering team meeting in 2014.
Airbus Defense & Space out of Spain has made progress in the engineering of airframe structures, the AS2’s fly-by-wire flight control system, its integrated fuel system, and landing gear. Some of the company’s accomplishments include preliminary designs for a 10-spar carbon fiber wing structure, fuselage and empennage structures, an articulating main landing gear system that minimizes space requirements in the fuselage when stowed/retracted, and a fuel system that is integrated with the digital fly-by-wire system for control of center of gravity.
The aircraft’s flight control design will take advantage of small, powerful actuators that can be housed in the AS2’s thin flying surfaces. To supplement the design process, Airbus D&S built a sample titanium wing leading-edge section for evaluation and is testing composite material specimens to optimize material properties.
Aerion is the lead for other systems, such as avionics, electrical, environmental control, hydraulics, and auxiliary power. In conjunction with Airbus D&S, Aerion had made preliminary space allocations for every system with weight and balance considerations in mind. Candidate suppliers have been identified and the supplier selection process has begun.
This past September, senior engineering staff from Aerion, Airbus D&S, Airbus Group, and other Tier 1 equipment suppliers gathered at Aerion headquarters in Reno for a four-day technical and program review, covering engineering accomplished to date on all structures and aircraft systems.
“The take-away from the design review and the effort this past year is that we have moved out of the conceptual design phase into commercializing Aerion technology,” said Aerion Senior Vice President for Aircraft Development Mike Hinderberger, “We are doing the engineering work today that will allow us to build and fly a supersonic jet at the turn of the next decade.”
As it stands, the engine will be the pacing element for the first flight of the AS2 in 2021. The original design specified the JT8D engine from Pratt & Whitney, and the engineers are now looking at more modern engines.
“We are targeting the first half of 2016 to select a propulsion system, which will enable us to formally launch the program shortly thereafter,” said Doug Nichols, Aerion CEO.
Aerion has identified existing core engines suitable for adaptation to the needs of supersonic flight.
“We will proceed with an engine that allows us to meet our performance goals with the minimum changes required,” said Nichols. “Aerion is focused on an engine solution that meets Stage 4 noise standards while preserving long-range supersonic performance. This is a significant challenge with a low-bypass supersonic engine, but solutions are in sight with today’s engine technology.”
Aerion says the jet will operate efficiently within the current regulatory environment, including rules regarding supersonic flight over land. This takes advantage of the ability of the AS2 to operate efficiently just below the speed of sound at Mach 0.95 to 0.98, and at speeds up to Mach 1.5 over water and other areas where supersonic flight is permitted. “This is a very good airplane at subsonic or supersonic speeds,” said Hinderberg, adding that he considers the aircraft “almost more like a fighter than a commercial airliner.”
When the partnership began, Airbus was particularly interested in Aerion's proprietary laminar flow software tool for analyzing high-speed airflow and for airframe optimization. In fact, said, Hinderberg, the program’s “two top goals were optimizing for natural laminar flow and optimizing for wave drag.”
“This is Aerion’s jet and Aerion’s program, with substantial benefits for Airbus Group,” said Ken McKenzie, Senior Vice President for Strategy and Corporate Development at Airbus Group. “We gain new technology and tools, and through our collaboration will be expanding engineering knowledge and refining processes such as digital manufacturing. The AS2 program will be an incubator for innovation in design, engineering, and manufacturing.”
Nichols says that “Aerion has begun a formal search for a U.S. manufacturing location” for the AS2.
“We’re looking for a state-of-the art campus of more than 100 acres on a major airport with a minimum 9000-ft runway, and other special geophysical requirements,” he said. Among them will be a location within 200 nmi of a supersonic flight test area, most likely one offshore.
Aerion will evaluate numerous factors including: airport suitability, road and rail infrastructure, proximity to a deep-water port for shipped structures and equipment, local aerospace workforce, state and local regulations, quality of life, and regional educational institutions.
The company expects to announce the location of the assembly site in the first half of 2016 upon formal launch of the AS2 program, and break ground in 2018.
Airbus Group will provide major components and Aerion will conduct final assembly. Both companies envision a long-term relationship for ongoing technical support. Aerion will draw on expertise from Airbus Group for establishing the new Aerion production facility.
Author: Jean L. Broge
Source: SAE Aerospace Engineering Magazine
Aerion預計將于2016年上半年宣布AS2超音速飛機裝配工廠的地址，屆時也將正式啟動AS2項目。廠區(qū)建設將于2018年動工。
自2014年建立合作關系以來，Aerion和空客集團的工程師一直致力于飛機結構和系統(tǒng)的合作設計?？湛推煜碌腄&S公司主要負責機身結構、數(shù)字飛行控制、綜合燃油系統(tǒng)和起落架系統(tǒng)的設計工作。Aerion負責其他系統(tǒng)的設計，包括航電設備、環(huán)境控制、輔助動力、液壓、電氣系統(tǒng)、機艙設施等?？諝鈩恿W和飛行科學的相關研發(fā)工作則由雙方共同進行。
AS2駕駛艙將采用先進的航電設備，充分運用自然視線技術和人體工學知識，旨在實現(xiàn)飛行狀態(tài)感知的最佳水平。在駕駛艙中，Aerion還將仔細研究日間/夜間照明等問題，致力于打造出與客艙環(huán)境同樣卓越的駕駛艙環(huán)境。
AS2駕駛艙和機艙設計的全尺寸工程模型，由英格蘭的雷迪奇的Design Q公司完成。
AS2駕駛艙和機艙設計的全尺寸工程模型，由英格蘭的雷迪奇的Design Q公司完成。
AS2的技術規(guī)格
Aerion AS2的機艙初步效果圖，由INAIRVATION和Design Q-Night完成。
Aerion AS2的機艙初步效果圖，由INAIRVATION和Design Q-Night完成。
Aerion首席執(zhí)行官Doug Nichols說：“我們計劃在2016年上半年選定推進系統(tǒng)。這樣項目很快就可以正式啟動?！?/span>
空客與Aerion自2014年首次合作組建工程隊伍以來，一直致力于打造1.5倍音速的AS2機型，雙方的合作“低調但卻進展穩(wěn)健”。
Aerion表示，AS2飛機可以滿足當前的法規(guī)要求，并實現(xiàn)高效運行，飛機也符合陸地上空超音速飛行的相關規(guī)定。