Boom Supersonic to roll out historic XB-1 demonstrator October 7th

More than 50 years after Concorde first took flight, a brand new supersonic jet is preparing for take off

Boom Supersonic, the aerospace company building the world’s fastest airliner has announced that its supersonic demonstrator, XB-1, will roll out on October 7th, 2020.

In keeping with CDC-recommended social distancing measures, the entire event will be available online and allow attendees an opportunity to submit questions to company leadership.

XB-1 is the world’s first independently developed supersonic jet and will demonstrate key technologies for Overture, Boom’s commercial airliner, such as advanced carbon fiber composite construction, computer-optimized high-efficiency aerodynamics, and an efficient supersonic propulsion system. XB-1 is the end product of years of development effort, including multiple wind tunnel tests, dozens of structural tests, hundreds of simulation iterations, and tens of thousands of work hours.

Boom Supersonic's experimental aircraft XB-1 will roll out in October, with a test program beginning next year. Photo courtesy Boom Supersonic.

“Our experiences in the COVID-19 pandemic underscore for all of us the fundamental human need for personal connection. Faster travel enables us to experience the world’s people, cultures, and places, and XB-1 is the first step in bringing supersonic back to the world,” said Blake Scholl, Boom founder and CEO. “With XB-1, we’re demonstrating that we are prepared to bring back supersonic. We’re ensuring that the supersonic future is safe and environmentally and economically sustainable. We’ve learned that the demand for supersonic has grown even faster than we anticipated.”

To design and build XB-1, Boom has recruited a team of experts from around the industry, established supplier relationships, and built a strong safety culture. XB-1 is the first aircraft program to announce a 100% carbon-neutral flight test program. The company’s nnovations include one of the highest-efficiency civil supersonic intakes ever tested, demonstrating Boom’s ability to deliver a breakthrough in propulsive efficiency for Overture. XB-1 will begin its test program later this year and is slated for first flight in 2021.

Rendering of supersonic commercial jet Overture, currently in development | Photo courtesy Boom Supersonic.

Boom’s commercial aircraft, Overture, will be the fastest and most sustainable supersonic airliner, flying twice as fast as any commercial airplane today - allowing Boom to bring families, businesses, and cultures closer together through supersonic travel and thus, make the world dramatically more accessible.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 16th July 2020 | Issue #566