Space Florida is pleased to announce it
has finalized a multi-million-dollar investment in Aerion Supersonic
to accelerate the hiring of employees and development of the
company's new state-of-the-art campus – Aerion Park –
in Melbourne, Fla.
A new development which will be powered
by clean energy, Aerion Park will incorporate a new global
headquarters and integrated campus for research, design, production
and support of the company's supersonic aircraft. The new project
represents a multi-year investment that is expected to generate at
least 675 jobs in Florida by 2026.
"Florida has a rich history
in the aviation industry from the first commercial air passenger
service and it will now host production of the world's first
commercial supersonic business jet,” said Frank DiBello,
president and CEO of Space Florida.
Aerion will break ground on the new
campus later this year and once complete, Aerion Park is expected to
attract key aerospace suppliers within the supersonic technology
ecosystem to bring business to Florida, creating additional
roles for scientists, designers, engineers and aircraft builders.
"We are excited to partner with
the State of Florida, Space Florida, Brevard County and
the local Melbourne community to create a sustainable
supersonic future," said Aerion Chairman, President &
CEO, Tom Vice. “Backed by an excellent education system, a
significant engineering and manufacturing talent pool, the right
business climate with global access and the unique attributes of
Orlando Melbourne International Airport, this is the ideal location
for Aerion to continue our mission to build the global transportation
networks of the future."
The AS2 supersonic business jet will be
the first aircraft to be designed, built, and tested at Aerion Park.
Designed to be inherently environmentally responsible from first
flight, the AS2 is the first supersonic aircraft designed to be
powered by 100% synthetic fuel and reach supersonic speeds without
the need for an afterburner. Manufacturing is scheduled to commence
in 2023.
