Boom Supersonic's Jet Gears Up for First Supersonic Flight, Reviving Concorde's Legacy

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A new chapter in aviation history is set to unfold as Boom Supersonic's XB-1 demonstrator prepares to break the sound barrier above California's Mojave Desert. The US-based company, founded in 2014, envisions the prototype as a significant step toward reintroducing supersonic passenger travel, a feat not seen since Concorde's final flight two decades ago.  

 

On Tuesday, the XB-1 will aim to surpass Mach 1 (770 mph) during a series of four-minute runs, with Boom predicting the aircraft will achieve a cruising speed of Mach 1.1. The historic test will take place in airspace near Edwards Air Force Base, where Chuck Yeager famously became the first person to exceed the speed of sound in 1947. The XB-1 pays homage to this milestone, taking its name from Yeager’s iconic Bell X-1 aircraft.

 

Boom has steadily ramped up its testing program since March, achieving speeds of Mach 0.95 earlier this month. The XB-1, a scaled-down version of the planned Overture passenger jet, measures one-third the size of its future counterpart. Once fully developed, the Overture is expected to cruise at Mach 1.7, doubling the speed of today’s fastest commercial aircraft.  

 

The Overture, designed to carry approximately 65 passengers, comes with a projected price tag of £200 million per aircraft. Boom has already attracted interest from major airlines such as United and American, who have placed preliminary orders. The Denver-based company’s factory in North Carolina, completed in June, has the capacity to produce 33 aircraft annually, with plans to double output once a second assembly line is operational.  

 

However, the road to commercial service is far from straightforward. Boom faces the daunting challenge of securing billions in additional funding to move from prototype to production, including the development of a new engine. Complicating matters further is the aviation industry's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, a goal that has intensified scrutiny of the environmental impact of supersonic travel.  

 

Blake Scholl, Boom’s founder and CEO, remains optimistic about the future of sustainable supersonic flight. “There’s no reason why the Overture can’t run on the same sustainable aviation fuel that airlines are adopting to decarbonize their regular operations,” Scholl has asserted. This fuel, derived from renewable sources, is seen as a critical tool for reducing the carbon footprint of air travel.  

 

As Boom’s ambitious plans take flight, the company hopes to redefine the possibilities of global travel, offering passengers the ability to cross oceans in half the time of today’s commercial jets. If successful, the Overture could usher in a new era of supersonic aviation, making once-distant destinations more accessible than ever before. For now, all eyes are on the Mojave Desert, where the XB-1 is poised to revive the dreams of supersonic travel.

 

Based on a report by Live Science 2025-01-29

 

 

 

[LittleBear57]

Much slower than Concorde it seems.

[Rinrada]

On my last flight on Concorde we got to 60 + plus Thousand feet and Mach 2.2.....Great days..1978....Cmon Boom catch up...

[thaibeachlovers]

Just what the world needs, spending billions so the rich can get to their destination a couple of hours faster.

 

No wonder such as I think western civilization is doomed.

[Watawattana]

I wonder if it can run on 2nd hand chip fat?

[mogandave]

8 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

I wonder if it can run on 2nd hand chip fat?

Batteries 

[Watawattana]

4 minutes ago, mogandave said:

Batteries 

Yeah!!  A could of triple As ought to do it. 🤭