Flexjet places firm order for 20 ‘Son of Concorde’ supersonic Airbus backed jets.

Flexjet a US based company which allows customers to buy fractional shares of luxury aircraft has placed a firm order for 20 Airbus-backed ‘son of Concorde’ AS2 supersonic jets.

The AS2, a planned three-engine jet that can carry eight to 12 passengers, is being developed by Aerion, who are backed by Texas billionaire Robert Bass in collaboration with Airbus Group.

The supersonic jet which has been quickly dubbed ‘son of Concorde’ and is expected to make its maiden flight in 2021 entering service in 2023.

Flexjet are the first fleet provider to commit to the ambitious project offering the world’s first publicly available supersonic transport since commercial airline supersonic crossings ended service in 2003.

The collaboration with Airbus was announced last year and intends to fill a niche gap left vacant since the retirement of the Concorde.

Airbus will provide major components and Aerion will do the final assembly, the companies said in the statement released this week

Aerion needs a 40-hectare area near a US airport with a runway at least 2,700 metres long and plans to break ground on the factory in 2018.