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- February 17, 2021, 11:01 AM
Spike Aerospace’s efforts to develop the supersonic S-512 business jet are receiving a boost under a partnership with Indian technology giant Tech Mahindra. Through the partnership, Tech Mahindra will bring engineering, optimization, and composites expertise to the low-boom Mach 1.6 jet. I’m very much looking forward to working with Tech Mahindra and their experienced team of engineers,” said Spike president and CEO Vik Kachoria, noting Tech Mahindra’s Aerospace and Defense Group has provided engineering support to a number of commercial, business aviation, and defense programs. This has included design and analysis, verification, testing, and certification support. “Spike will be able to leverage their expertise in composite airframe design, stress analysis, and optimization.”
AVweb
Image: Spike Aerospace
Spike Aerospace and Tech Mahindra formalized plans to collaborate on the development of the Spike S-512 supersonic business jet with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Tuesday. According to Spike, Mahindra will bring expertise in areas including composite airframe design, stress analysis and optimization. Spike has also formed partnerships with Siemens, MAYA Simulation, Greenpoint Technologies, BRPH and Quartus Engineering.
“I’m very much looking forward to working with Tech Mahindra and their experienced team of engineers,” said Spike Aerospace CEO Vik Kachoria. “Tech Mahindra has provided engineering support to several programs and we are proud to have them as a partner on the Spike S-512 Supersonic Jet program.”
Molly McMillin, Aviation Week’s managing editor of business aviation, responds:
The world has been intrigued by supersonic flight since Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in 1947. The Concorde passenger jet was retired in 2003, but the fascination has continued. And the current level of interest from the business jet industry is strong.
Several companies are working on supersonic aircraft, including Boom Technology, Aerion Corp. and Spike Aerospace.
A supersonic business aircraft, however, does come with trade-offs. For one, it will be fast but expensive, notes Teal Group analyst Richard Aboulafia. Aerion’s AS2, for example, has a price tag of $120 million. “Will someone say, ‘I don’t care about the trade-offs I want that speed’?” Aboulafia asks. “I have no doubt. There’s going to be some market. It has always been a good time to go ahead with it.”
Aerion Park, next to next to Orlando Melbourne International Airport, will produce 300 of the jets
The park will cover more than 110 acres, with the buildings alone covering the equivalent of 14 football fields
It will bring at least 675 new jobs to Florida by 2026, it s claimed, as operations are ramped up
The park will house a customer completions center and a full-size AS2 cabin mock-up