Keep pulling the thread on Ian Brooke.
Astro Mechanica is developing a supersonic aircraft with a target price of less than $10,000 for a max-range charter flight carrying five passengers.
Astro Mechanica's target price per passenger for a supersonic flight from San Francisco to Paris is approximately $2,000.
Astro Mechanica's business strategy is to vertically integrate and control all aspects of its aircraft, including engines, airframes, and operations, to make flight cheaper.
Astro Mechanica's product roadmap involves developing three different aircraft for niche markets before building a passenger jet for over 100 people.
A one-way private charter flight on a Gulfstream jet from San Francisco to Paris or Tokyo costs at least $200,000, and typically closer to $250,000.
Astro Mechanica's go-to-market strategy mirrors Tesla's by starting with a high-performance, niche product before scaling down to serve broader, more economical markets.
Astro Mechanica grew from 12 employees at the start of the year to the mid-40s.
No supersonic aircraft has ever been able to cross the Pacific Ocean nonstop, and Ian Brooke believes none currently under development will be able to either.
Astro Mechanica's aircraft are being developed with a hybrid electric architecture to reduce maintenance costs, which are a dominant expense for private jets.
Ian Brooke believes Ashley Pelzel, his COO who was formerly CEO of Bridgewater Technology Group, will be the "next Gwen Shotwell."
Astro Mechanica hired Matt Perkins, who worked at SpaceX for over a decade starting in 2011, as its first employee after leaving SpaceX.
Astro Mechanica hired Greg Crowland, who was the chief engineer for the XB-1 demonstrator at Boom Supersonic.