In prior issues, we’ve discussed the emerging category of $1 million to $2 million micro-jets and the even more exciting VTOL Skycar technology. These developments promise to bring business aviation to a whole new category of small and midsize businesses. But what’s going to happen for the elite who already spend $40 million to $100 million for Gulfstreams and Boeing Business Jets?

For those top-of-the-line business travelers, there is a boom ahead: a sonic boom. As early as 2010, the new fleets of business jets will include sleek, supersonic 12-passenger aircraft that can deliver passengers from New York to Paris in just over four hours. Commercial service and today’s corporate planes take eight hours. Until a few years ago, you had the option of the Concorde, but then, of course, you had to leave at the airline’s convenience.

Aviation Week & Space Technology reported in October 2004 on the ongoing development of two supersonic business jets, or SSBJs, and the high expectations for business aviation in general. First, Aerion Corporation, an engineering group based in Reno, Nevada announced that it was working on a jet that would cruise at Mach 1.5.

Close on the heels of that announcement, Supersonic Aerospace International said that it was developing a supersonic business jet that it called the Quiet Small Supersonic Transport, or QSST. It is expected to cruise at Mach 1.6, with a range of 4,000 nautical miles. Both planes will cost around $80 million.

What is driving this push for such a specialized aviation product for such a relatively small market?

First, there’s pent-up demand, fueled by the perceived advantages of doing global business anywhere and anytime around the globe.

Second, technological breakthroughs have addressed some of the traditional supersonic drawbacks — such as reduced sonic boom signatures. Additionally, there is something called supersonic natural laminar flow technology that paves the way for a wing design that promises previously unachievable supersonic range and efficiency. Also, various aircraft engine manufacturers are making radical modifications to their engine designs in order to push beyond the limited commercial aircraft marketplace.

Third, a substantial amount of money is poised to seed these ventures — largely because of...