The Comeback of the Commercial Supersonic Jet
Thanks to the efforts of companies like Boom, supersonic air travel may be making a comeback. We visited Boom’s hangar in Mojave, California, to find out what it takes to revive the dream of ultra-fast intercontinental air travel more than 20 years after the Boom was retired. Concorde supersonic jetliner.
As of this writing, Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 demonstrator has made 11 test flights and has reached a top speed of Mach 0.95. Mach 1 is the speed of sound, which is approximately 767 mph at 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl said it will achieve supersonic flight “near Flight 12.”
Boom Supersonic says its XB-1 demonstrator is ready to break the sound barrier.
Chief test pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, who was behind the controls for these flights, told me that supersonic flight was “actually a bit anticlimactic” from inside the aircraft. Aside from controlling subtle changes in feel, the only way he knew this was happening was by paying close attention to his speed indicator.
Brandenburg demonstrated his vision from the cockpit of the XB-1 flight simulator.
The infamous sonic boom (for which the company and the XB-1 Boomer aircraft were named) was primarily experienced by those outside the aircraft. To minimize disruption to people who live and work in Boom’s flight path, the company said it plans to fly the airliner at supersonic speeds over oceans and slightly below the speed of sound over land. However, that’s still much faster than the cruising speed of a conventional jetliner, which is about 550 to 600 mph.
Boom said it is also paying close attention to NASA’s development Low explosion supersonic technology and possibly integrating it into future aircraft designs.
Soon after supersonic flight, Boom’s XB-1 demonstrator will be retired and focus will shift to building the large passenger aircraft Overture.
The XB-1 flight test program is paving the way for the Boom airliner Overture, which will be able to run on traditional aviation fuels as well as newer fuels sustainable aviation fuel.
The company aims to carry its first passengers in about five years. The company has completed construction of a “gigafactory” that will produce 33 Overture aircraft per year upon launch, and plans to expand. United Airlines, American Airlines and Japan Airlines are already taking reservations.
Boom completed construction of its Overture Superfactory in North Carolina last June.
Sauer said that while ticket prices will ultimately be determined by individual airlines, passengers may pay a premium for faster ride times, especially “on the first day when there are more passengers than planes.” “But our goal is to have (prices) come down over time.”
For our full visit to the Boom Supersonic and my attempt at the XB-1 Flight Simulator, check out the video in this article.
