Boom Supersonic, the company behind the world's fastest airliner, the Overture, announced last week that its XB-1 demonstrator aircraft successfully completed its first supersonic flight at Mojave Air & Space Port in California. Boom designed and built the XB-1, making it the first independently developed supersonic jet and the first civil supersonic jet made in America.
Boom Chief Test Pilot Tristan "Geppetto" Brandenburg piloted the flight. During the flight, the XB-1 entered the supersonic corridor and reached an altitude of 35,290 feet before accelerating to Mach 1.122 (750 mph), breaking the sound barrier for the first time.
Historically, nation-states have primarily developed supersonic aircraft, focusing on military and governmental projects. However, the XB-1's successful supersonic flight marks a significant milestone as the first jet independently developed to break the sound barrier.
The XB-1, the first supersonic jet built using airliner technology, incorporates several key features similar to those found in the Overture, including carbon fiber composites, digital stability augmentation, and an augmented reality vision system to enhance landing visibility.
After its maiden flight in March 2024, the XB-1 underwent a rigorous series of 11 human-piloted test flights, conducted in increasingly challenging conditions to evaluate its systems and aerodynamics.
During the flight test campaign, the XB-1 team systematically expanded the flight envelope to include subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds. They took intelligent risks while prioritizing safety at all times.
The Augmented Reality Vision System plays a crucial role in the XB-1 and Overture, which feature a long nose and a high angle of attack during takeoff and landing. This design can make it challenging for pilots to see the runway ahead. To address this, both aircraft are equipped with an augmented reality vision system that provides excellent runway visibility without the added weight and complexity of a movable nose, like that of the Concorde.
Overture has a backlog of 130 orders and pre-orders from major airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines.
In 2024, Boom completed the construction of the Overture super factory in Greensboro, North Carolina. This facility will produce 66 Overture aircraft per year.
Overture and its bespoke propulsion system, Symphony, are optimized for speed, safety, and sustainability and designed to operate on up to 100% SAF (sustainable aviation fuel).