US company Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 technology demonstrator aircraft reached a supersonic top speed of Mach 1.122 during its twelfth test flight.
Boom Supersonic founder and CEO Blake Scholl said, “XB-1’s supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived. 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.”
Historically, supersonic aircraft have been developed using funding from governments and militaries. Boom Supersonic is claiming that XB-1’s supersonic flight marks the first time an “independently developed” jet has broken the sound barrier.
XB-1 completed its first flight in March 2024 and has been progressing through a test flight program to expand its flight envelope. This involves flying under increasingly challenging conditions to evaluate systems and aerodynamics.
Throughout the flight test campaign, the XB-1 team has increased speed through the subsonic, transonic, and supersonic ranges.
Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, chief test pilot for Boom Supersonic said, “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.
“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.”
XB-1 is validating technologies and design features for Boom’s planned Overture airliner. These include an augmented reality vision system, aerodynamics tweaked for supersonic flight, composite materials, and engine intakes that slow down the speed of incoming air.
US-based Boom is developing the Mach 1.7 Overture airliner to carry up to 80 passengers and has a range of 4,900 miles (7,885km). The aircraft will be powered by three non-afterburning, medium-bypass turbofan engines, two under the wings and one in the tail.
Boom has said it plans to roll out the first completed Overture aircraft in 2026, with certification and entry into service planned by 2030.
