An aerospace manufacturing firm has made significant progress in the development of its flagship supersonic business jet, designed to deliver safe, quiet, and fuel-efficient supersonic travel over both land and water. The Spike S-512 Diplomat, designed by Spike Aerospace, based in Boston, Massachusetts.
The S-512 intends to reduce travel times between New York and Paris to under four hours, while non-stop flights via current commercial aircraft take well over seven hours. This is reportedly all set to be achieved without the disruptive sonic boom that has plagued supersonic flights, including Concorde, thus far. This new generation of supersonic flights, however, “is designed to combine speed, comfort, and privacy for business leaders and discerning travellers”. According to Spike, a new design phase is now underway, bringing quiet supersonic travel closer than ever.
According to data from Spike, the S-512 would be capable of carrying 18 passengers within its 122-foot length, with a wingspan of 58 foot. It plans to have a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 (1,189 mph), with a cruising speed of Mach 1.6 (1,056 mph) – 500 mph faster than any other civilian aircraft. It would be capable of flying 6,200 nautical miles (7,100 miles), with a service ceiling of 50,000 feet.
Building on a technical foundation of research and development along with multiple design iterations, the company is now completing an enhanced study to further refine the S-512 Diplomat’s aerodynamics, cabin configuration and low-boom performance. This work aims to validate the aircraft’s ability to meet stringent noise requirements for overland supersonic flight – a capability that would dramatically expand route flexibility and reduce travel times across the globe.
In June, President Donald Trump has ordered the Federal Aviation Administration to scrap a longstanding ban on supersonic air travel across the US.
“Our goal is to redefine long-distance travel for business and government leaders, offering the speed of supersonic with the comfort and discretion of a private jet,” said Vik Kachoria, President & CEO of Spike Aerospace. “The S-512 Diplomat is being engineered to connect cities like New York and Paris in under four hours — quietly and sustainably.”
To prepare for the next phase, Spike Aerospace is working with highly experienced professionals from top aerospace companies, as well as key industry partners and academic institutions, to accelerate design, certification planning and market readiness, Spike revealed.
Commercial supersonic flights were phased out due to a combination of significant environmental, economic, and safety concerns, having first become a reality after Concorde began flights with British Airways and air France in 1976. Until 2003, flying to New York from London in three and a half hours was a reality, cruising at Mach 2.04 (1,354 mph) – more than twice the speed of sound.
The generation of a “sonic boom” caused by then likes of Concorde was the primary reason for the ban on supersonic flight over land in many countries. Public outcry over these disruptive and startling noises, and concerns about potential property damage, inluding the rattling or breaking of windows, led to widespread restrictions.
Passengers also lost faith in Concorde in the aftermath of the deadly crash in 2000. The crash of Air France Flight 4590 in Paris, which killed all 109 people on board and four on the ground, was a major blow to Concorde’s image. The incident, which involved a tire blowout and subsequent fuel tank puncture, shattered the perception of Concorde as an exceptionally safe aircraft, despite its previous flawless safety record.
However, multiple companies across the globe are now vying to become the first to reinstate commerical supersonic travel. This includes the Colorado-based Boom Supersonic company has made significant progress with its upcoming Overture jet, while Fly Concorde Ltd, a UK-based initiative, aims to revive the iconic Concorde experience.
