Boom demonstrator achieves supersonic flight

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Boom Supersonic

Boom Supersonic has achieved supersonic speeds in its demonstrator aircraft XB-1 for the first time. 

The achievement marks the first supersonic flight of a civilian aircraft since Concorde last flew in 2003. It is also the first civil supersonic jet made in America.

The test flight was conducted January 28th at Mojave Air & Space Port in California, piloted by Boom Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg. The aircraft reached an altitude of 35,290ft before accelerating to Mach 1.122 (652KTAS or 750mph).

“XB-1’s supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived,” said Boom Supersonic founder and CEO Blake Scholl. “A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars. 

Next, we are scaling up the technology on XB-1 for the Overture supersonic airliner. Our ultimate goal is to bring the benefits of supersonic flight to everyone.”

XB-1 completed a rigorous series of 11 human-piloted test flights under increasingly challenging conditions following its first flight in March 2024. Over the course of the test campaign, the XB-1 team expanded the flight envelope through subsonic, transonic and supersonic speeds.

“It has been a privilege and a highlight of my career to be a part of the team that achieved this milestone—every single member of this team was critical to our success,” said Brandenburg. “Our discipline and methodical approach to this flight test program created the safety culture that made a safe and successful first supersonic flight possible. With the lessons learned from XB-1, we can continue to build the future of supersonic travel.”

The XB-1 includes a number of technologies that will be integrated into Boom’s production aircraft Overture, such as:  

  • Augmented reality vision system: XB-1 and Overture both have a long nose and a high angle of attack for takeoff and landing, which makes it difficult for pilots to see the runway in front of them. The augmented reality vision system enables runway visibility—without the weight and complexity of a moveable nose like Concorde’s.
  • Digitally-optimised aerodynamics: Engineers used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to explore thousands of designs for XB-1. CFD is also being used in the Overture programme.
  • Carbon fibre composites: Both XB-1 and Overture are almost entirely made from carbon fibre composite materials.
  • Supersonic intakes: XB-1’s engine intakes slow supersonic air to subsonic speeds, converting kinetic energy into pressure energy, allowing conventional jet engines to power XB-1 from takeoff through supersonic flight.

Overture will carry 64-80 passengers at Mach 1.7. Boom as an order book of 130 orders and pre-orders from American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines for the aircraft. 

Last year, Boom completed construction on the Overture Superfactory in Greensboro, North Carolina, which will scale to produce 66 Overture aircraft per year.

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