US develops supersonic business jet

American firm Aerion is looking to develop supersonic business jets that could be ready for service by 2014.

The planes would offer passengers the chance to travel faster than the speed of sound for the first time since Concorde was retired in 2003. At a press conference in London, the company revealed that it had received 20 orders for the aircraft so far, and has begun taking $250,000 deposits.

Aerion says that its jets would allow for a flight time of around five and a half hours between Chicago and London (a conventional plane takes nine hours).

Because of regulations relating to sonic booms over land, speed would be kept to Mach 0.9 from Chicago to Labrador (Mach 1 is the speed of sound).

"And here comes the fun part," a spokesman said. "The throttles go forward and you are suddenly through Mach 1 and accelerating to Mach 1.5 over the next 167 nautical miles.

"Passengers can marvel at the bulkhead flight data display as the speed builds, or gather around a conference table for a meeting. Or perhaps trade emails with the home office."

Test flights are due to begin in 2012, and well-heeled travellers should be able to book their Aerion flights two years later.

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