Northwest Aerospace News October | November Issue No. 11 | Page 60

STRATEGIES TO SECURE OUR FUTURE ­—
The Supersonic Flight Alliance
T
Fiona McKay
Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance
Deputy Executive Director
www.pnaa.net
PNAA SPOTLIGHT
By Fiona McKay, Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance, Deputy Executive Director
he Pacific Northwest has long been recognized as the largest aerospace cluster in the
world. At the leading edge of new technologies, with a high concentration of aerospace
suppliers and one of the most skilled aerospace workforces in the world, it’s no surprise
that the region has attracted investment from OEMs and Tier 1 companies from around the
globe. To secure our continued reputation as the leading region, many investments to ex-
pand our aerospace market are underway. While activities in space and the UAS arena are
well established, an exciting opportunity is also on the rise: the supersonic jet resurgence.
The Supersonic Resurgence
Over a decade has passed since the final flight of the Concorde, the world’s first commercial supersonic airplane. Reaching
speeds of up to 1,350 mph, a flight from London to New York could be completed in less than two and a half hours. Unfor-
tunately, costs and stringent regulations put an end to the supersonic dream. However, with advances in technology and ap-
proaching changes in regulations, the dream is now resurfacing with a vengeance. In 2018, NASA awarded Lockheed Martin a
contract to build and test a quieter supersonic aircraft, the Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator (LBFD), a contract valued at 247.5
million dollars. With advances in technology, the quieter supersonic jet will produce a “thump,” rather than the traditional
supersonic boom. With a noise something similar to a car door closing, the impact on the public is limited. With these devel-
opments, a range of start-up companies are now positioning themselves to be part of the first wave of business — regional and
commercial jets to be delivered — in addition to other established aerospace giants, such as Gulfstream and Boeing.
New entrants Aerion Supersonic, Spike Aerospace and Boom Supersonic have already secured sales ahead of their anticipated
certifications in the first half of the next decade, and U.S. lawmakers are now repositioning to pave the way for supersonic
flight and to restore the USA’s position as the leading technical authority in aerospace.
60
NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS