Last month at South by Southwest (SXSW) Online, Los Angeles-based low-boom supersonic transport startup Exosonic Inc. was selected as an alternate to pitch its company and technology in the Innovative World category for the 11th annual SXSW Pitch. Out of the more than 500 companies that applied to present at SXSW Pitch 2021, Exosonic was selected among the 16 alternates spanning 8 separate categories.
“Exosonic is excited to share its vision of enabling supersonic flight everywhere through Exosonic’s muted sonic boom approach,” said Norris Tie, CEO and Co-founder of Exosonic, Inc. “By quieting the boom, we can fly supersonic over water and over land, pending regulations. However, Exosonic is also taking an innovative product roadmap strategy to build the company in incremental steps.”
The aerospace company is developing a Mach 1.8 supersonic airliner designed with a muted sonic boom to enable passengers to reach their destinations twice as fast as current commercial flights. The company was founded with a vision to bring people together through faster travel and with a commitment to environmentally sustainable practices.
Exosonic’s goal is a low-boom 5000-nmi-range, 70-passenger supersonic airliner. As part of the supersonic airliner development, it is offering a supersonic UAV that can be used for ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance), combat, and/or flight research applications. That nearer-term technology solution will act as a technology demonstrator as a step in the company’s incremental approach to changing the way people travel.
Tie leads a team with more than 60 years combined in the aerospace industry focusing on high-performance supersonic jets like the Northrop YF-17, YF-22, YF-23 Black Widow II; Lockheed Martin F-35, X-59, F-20 Tigershark; and Boeing B-1B. The team includes Tim MacDonald, Chief Technical Officer; Dave Boyer, Chief Configurator; Bob Sandusky, Chief Engineer; Stephanie Chahan, Principal Aircraft Interior Designer & Business Development Analyst; Juan Solorzano, Configuration Design Engineer; and Avi Soval, Aerodynamics Engineer.
That approach and the company’s promising technology attracted the attention of partners Y Combinator and AFWERX as well as a high-profile contract from the U.S. Air Force‘s Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate (PE) to develop a supersonic executive transport. Exosonic’s aircraft can provide top U.S. leaders and diplomats rapid transportation around the world to meet with leaders or react to developing situations on the ground.
“The Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate is extremely excited to team with Exosonic on our quest to transform the future of executive airlift,” said Brig. Gen. Ryan Britton, Program Executive Officer of PE. “As always, we are proud to be leading the charge to deliver cutting-edge technology to the world. Transporting key decision-makers and teams around the world in half the time can be the difference between success and failure. Exosonic is a key player in getting us there.”
PE’s contract, sponsored by the Air Force Research Lab, will support Exosonic’s efforts to develop and modify the company’s commercial supersonic airliner to serve as an executive transport vehicle. These modifications will include reconfiguring the aircraft cabin to include the required accommodations, communications equipment, and security measures that allow U.S. leaders and their guests to work and rest on board the aircraft.
On CNN last week, Tie and Chahan shared details, inspiration, and a first look at the design concept for the executive cabin, inspired by the U.S. Executive Branch and its mission and values, as well as the peregrine falcon, renowned for its speed—both by its movement and by its beautiful look. It worked with Prime Studios, Scott Group Studio, and Tapis Corp. on the concept.
“Exosonic is excited to win this contract as it represents not only commercial but government promise for low-boom supersonic travel,” said Tie of the partnership.
With the U.S. Air Force, Exosonic will continue to develop technology that will not only advance the critical missions of our nation but also enhance our commercial abilities to bring quiet supersonic travel to all. The company hopes to enable supersonic travel at prices comparable to a business class ticket today.
According to Exosonic, for the past 50 years, long-haul flight times have remained about the same. Loud sonic booms from supersonic aircraft resulted in overland flight bans. But with low-boom capability, the company’s leaders believe the industry is now at an inflection point for which supersonic jets capable of quiet, overland flight will eventually make existing subsonic aircraft obsolete.
The company is aiming for flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in 3 h (saving 3 h) and between London Heathrow (LHR) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) in 5 h, 10 min (saving 4 h, 40 min).
It is actively working to ensure that a world with supersonic aviation is also friendly to those on the ground. Its low-boom aircraft will create a softer thump on the ground quieter than typical traffic. This also means developing an aircraft that runs on sustainable fuels, and a company that is conscious of its environmental footprint.
While keeping a low profile on its aircraft developments, Chahan said a few key highlights from 2021 were the completion of an engineering initial design review in January, the company’s wind tunnel model is being manufactured now, and wind-tunnel testing is planned for later this month in Seattle, WA. Exosonic selected Modelwerks Inc. to create models for the wind-tunnel testing.
