Boom Supersonic breaks the sound barrier
With historic flight of the XB-1 jet
Boom Supersonic has made history with the successful supersonic flight of its XB-1 demonstrator aircraft, marking a key milestone in developing its Overture supersonic aircraft. The flight occurred at Mojave Air & Space Port in California, where the XB-1 became the first independently developed supersonic jet built in the United States.
The XB-1, piloted by Boom’s Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, reached an altitude of 35,290 feet and broke the sound barrier, achieving a speed of Mach 1.122 (750 mph) on January 28, 2025. The flight is significant as it represents the first time a civilian supersonic jet has broken the sound barrier, a feat previously only accomplished by military aircraft and government-funded projects.
Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, noted: “XB-1’s supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived.”
He emphasised that a small, highly skilled team of engineers has achieved what traditionally required enormous government resources. Scholl further outlined the next step in the company’s journey: scaling up the technology developed on XB-1 for the Overture supersonic airliner, which aims to bring the benefits of supersonic flight to the commercial airline market.
The XB-1 aircraft, built with cutting-edge technologies, incorporates design features similar to those planned for the Overture, such as carbon fibre composites, digital stability systems, and an augmented reality vision system to improve landing visibility. These technologies make the XB-1 a crucial stepping stone in validating the future of supersonic commercial air travel.
Following its inaugural flight in March 2024, the XB-1 underwent a rigorous test programme, including 11 test flights. Each flight pushed the aircraft’s performance limits and assessed various systems under increasingly demanding conditions. The data gathered from these tests will play a key role in the development of Overture, ensuring that safety and efficiency are prioritised.
Brandenburg reflected on the flight: “It has been a privilege to be part of this momentous achievement. Every team member played a vital role in making this historic flight possible.” He added that the lessons learned from XB-1 would be pivotal in shaping the future of supersonic travel.
XB-1’s flight sets the stage for Overture and validates critical technologies, including the aircraft’s advanced augmented reality vision system and digitally optimised aerodynamics.
These innovations enhance safety and performance during takeoff, landing, and supersonic cruise. Carbon fibre composites further ensure a lightweight yet robust structure, and the aircraft’s supersonic intake system optimises engine performance during high-speed flight.
The successful flight occurred in the same Mojave airspace where Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in 1947, adding to its historical significance. XB-1’s successful supersonic flight marks the first human-piloted civil supersonic flight since Concorde’s retirement more than twenty years ago.
It signals the imminent return of commercial supersonic travel. Overture will carry between 64 and 80 passengers at Mach 1.7, nearly twice the speed of current airliners, on over 600 routes globally.
Boom Supersonic has secured 130 orders and pre-orders for the Overture from major airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines. The company’s Overture Superfactory, completed in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 2024, will scale production of the aircraft to 66 units per year. Overture’s propulsion system, Symphony, was designed sustainably and can run on up to 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Image: The XB-1, piloted by Boom’s Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, reached an altitude of 35,290 feet and broke the sound barrier, achieving a speed of Mach 1.122 (750 mph) on January 28, 2025. Credit: Boom Supersonic
Last Updated on 1 day by Arnold Pinto
