Spike Aerospace advances work on quiet supersonic business jet

The purpose of this study is to confirm that the S-512 Diplomat can meet strict noise standards for overland supersonic flight. “Spike Aerospace aims to ‘redefine long-distance travel for business and government leaders,’ allowing them to travel at supersonic speeds while enjoying the comfort and discretion of a private jet,” according to their announcement.

As part of its ongoing efforts, Spike Aerospace is working with professionals from major aerospace companies, industry stakeholders, and academic institutions. These collaborations are intended to speed up design work, certification planning, and readiness for market entry. The company also plans a brand refresh that includes redesigning its website.

Supersonic passenger flights have not been available since Concorde was retired in 2003 due in part to concerns about noise pollution and environmental impact during overland flights. Now several aerospace firms are exploring new designs for quieter supersonic jets aimed at both commercial airlines and business aviation markets. Boom Supersonic has attracted attention with its plans for a commercial passenger aircraft targeting airlines such as United Airlines and American Airlines (https://boomsupersonic.com/partners).

Spike Aerospace claims that its S-512 Diplomat addresses demands for faster business aviation while also responding to community concerns about noise levels and environmental effects—issues that contributed to restrictions on previous aircraft like Concorde.

The S-512 will use advanced engineering techniques designed to reduce its sonic boom “to a mere soft thump,” with a predicted boom level below 75 PLdB. The company says this will allow quiet flight over both land and water routes. The aircraft is projected to cruise at Mach 1.6 (1,100 mph) while carrying up to 18 passengers.

Inside the cabin, insulation will help minimize engine and wind noise for greater comfort during flight. Travel times between key international cities could be cut by as much as half: New York-London in 3.3 hours; New York-Los Angeles in 3.1 hours; London-Dubai in 3.2 hours; Dubai-Hong Kong in 3.5 hours; Singapore-Sydney in 3.7 hours.

Cabin layouts are still being refined but may include Multiplex Digital Screens instead of traditional windows—providing panoramic views through high-definition displays along the length of the cabin.

Other companies are also developing quiet supersonic jets: Lockheed Martin’s X-59 Quesst is being built for NASA’s Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator project (https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/lowboom/index.html), while Boom Technology’s Overture targets commercial airliners with speeds up to Mach 1.7 (1,122 mph) carrying between 64–80 passengers.