Supersonic Business Jet Has A Long Waiting List

We've been hearing about the Aerion supersonic business jet for a while now but it looks like plans for the jet, which can hit Mach 1.6, are moving ahead full steam. The manufacturer has announced that it has letters of intent worth $1.5 billion from customers interested in paying $80 million for the plane. Their first customer is the Pakistan-based Princely Jets.

The supersonic jet can go more than 4000 nautical miles offering eight to 12 passengers a luxurious ride. It can zoom across the Atlantic from New York to Paris in four and a quarter hours. The streamlined design reduces the area of high drag airflow. The cabin will have LCD lights, personal comfort zones and recliner seats with three separate seating areas with a galley and toilet.

The initial deposit for the jet is $250,000. The company estimates that over two decades it could sell more than 500 jets, with about a fifth coming from the fractional business jet market. The jet should be entered into service by 2014.

[via The Australian]