Wichita may be involved in supersonic jet development

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Work on a supersonic business airplane could likely be headed to Wichita’s aircraft suppliers.

Aerion Corp. Executive Chairman Brian Barents said this week that it’s probable some of the parts on the company’s $120 million AS2 supersonic business jet will be made by Wichita suppliers.

Barents says he fully expects Wichita’s aviation industry to play a role in the development of the 12-passenger jet.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the AS2 likely will be manufactured by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, which last week announced its agreement with Aerion to work together on a plan to engineer, certify and produce the jet. But Barents says there will be ample opportunity for Wichita suppliers to manufacture parts for the airplane.

The jet is expected to make its first flight in 2023.