And finally, the XB-1 has gone supersonic. Boom Supersonic’s three-engine test aircraft broke the sound barrier in a flight on the morning of January 28 over California’s Mojave Desert.
It was the 12th flight since its maiden takeoff in March 2024 and the first time in history that a U.S. civilian aircraft has gone supersonic.
The XB-1 took off at approximately 8:20 a.m. accompanied by Mirage F1 and T-38 Talon aircraft and, after 11 minutes and 35 seconds in flight, accelerated to break the sound barrier at an altitude of 35,100 feet (10,700 meters).
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The aircraft even flew at Mach 1,122 before slowing down and returning to Mojave after 33 minutes and 48 seconds in the air.
“XB-1’s supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived,” said Boom CEO Blake Scholl.
The company’s founder aims to bring to market the first commercial supersonic aircraft since the Concorde was retired more than 20 years ago.
The Overture will be able to carry up to 80 passengers at speeds of Mach 1.7, which are only permitted over oceans.
The construction of the XB-1 was slow and faced a curious situation. During development, Boom revised the Overture’s configuration, abandoning a similar concept for a design with four engines and different wings and fuselage.
Boom, for its part, said the XB-1 will be important for validating key technologies such as the augmented reality vision system, digitally optimized aerodynamics, carbon fiber composites for the structure and supersonic air intakes for the engines.
The Overture and XB-1 also differ in propulsion. The small prototype uses three older GE J-85 turbojets while the passenger aircraft will be powered by new Symphony turbofans, under development by Boom and its partners.
