Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 demonstrator jet, a U.S.-made civilian supersonic jet, made history by becoming the first to break the sound barrier. The test flight saw the XB-1 reach a speed of Mach 1.122, or about 750 mph, marking a significant milestone in the development of Boom’s commercial supersonic aircraft, Overture, which aims to carry passengers at twice the speed of current subsonic airliners.
The flight, which was manned by Boom Supersonic’s chief test pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, took place at the Mojave Air & Space Port in California and was livestreamed. The achievement is particularly noteworthy as the independently funded XB-1 is the first privately developed aircraft to break the sound barrier over the continental U.S.
Boom’s founder and CEO, Blake Scholl, expressed optimism about the future of supersonic travel, stating that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived. The company’s Overture airliners, capable of carrying 64 to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7, are expected to revolutionize air travel by drastically reducing travel times, with a flight across the Atlantic taking just about 3 1/2 hours.
Furthermore, Boom has already received 130 orders and pre-orders for the Overture aircraft from airlines like American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines. The company has also completed construction on its Overture Superfactory in Greensboro, North Carolina, which is expected to produce 66 Overture aircraft yearly. This successful test flight of the XB-1 represents a major step forward in the pursuit of bringing supersonic flight to the masses.
