Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

There is a new entrant in the (slow) race to bring a supersonic business jet to market, Spike Aerospace. Headquartered in Boston, Spike Aerospace was founded by engineers and consultants with experience working at Airbus, Boeing, Eclipse, Gulfstream, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NASA. The Spike S-512 is targeting a Mach 1.6 cruise speed and Mach 1.8 maximum speed.
With an mtow of 84,000 pounds, the S-512 is designed to carry 40,000 pounds of fuel and fly 4,000 nm (reserve not specified). Engines are older technology, two 19,000-pound-thrust Pratt &amp; Whitney JT8Ds. Balanced field length will be 6,000 feet and stall speed 105 knots. 
The cabin length is 40 feet, with a 6.2-foot circular cross section capable of accommodating 12 to 18 passengers. 
Spike Aerospace believes that it can deliver a market-ready version of the S-512 five to seven years after formal program launch, and the company is seeking investors and hiring engineers.

In the Works: Spike Aerospace S-512

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