Boom Supersonic Aims to Launch World’s Fastest Commercial Aircraft by 2024
Latest image of the Overture aircraft. (Photo: Boom Supersonic).
With a cruising speed of 1.7 Mach (a unit of speed based on the speed of sound) and a capacity of 65-80 passengers, the Overture model from Boom Supersonic is expected to become the world’s fastest commercial aircraft.
Blake Scholl, CEO and founder of Boom Supersonic, describes Overture as a hybrid between the Concorde and the Boeing 747.
It is anticipated that Overture will transport passengers between London and New York in just 3.5 hours. Boom Supersonic aims to start production of this aircraft in 2024, with a market launch planned for 2029.
On the company’s website, they state: “Overture is a sustainable and environmentally friendly supersonic aircraft. It can fly higher than existing commercial aircraft. Enhanced configurations incorporate several aerodynamic innovations that reduce noise and improve performance.”
Boom Supersonic also asserts that passengers will not hear or feel any noise since Overture utilizes the world’s first automatic noise reduction system.
The Overture features a smart design, including four powerful engines mounted on the wings, enhancing operational capabilities while reducing noise and costs for airlines. This aircraft uses lightweight, durable composite materials that outperform traditional metals in terms of heat resistance.
Overture aircraft capable of using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). (Photo: Boom Supersonic).
At the Paris Air Show, which took place from June 19-25 in Paris, Boom Supersonic announced a series of agreements with new suppliers, revealing specifications for the Overture supersonic commercial aircraft project and its Symphony engine, according to New Atlas.
New partners include Italy’s Leonardo and Spanish companies Aernnova and Aciturri. Additionally, Boom Supersonic unveiled schematics for flight systems, avionics, landing gear, and engine specifications.
The company noted that the new fuel system can pump fuel between tanks mid-flight, allowing the center of gravity to shift appropriately for subsonic and supersonic flight. Moreover, experts have made modifications to enable Overture to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Overture will feature a gull-wing design and a fuselage made from composite materials.
Aernnova is developing the gull-wing design to achieve better supersonic performance while still ensuring subsonic handling. Similar to many supersonic wings, Overture’s wings are thinner than subsonic versions to reduce drag, thereby flying more efficiently. Leonardo is responsible for the technical handling of the structural components of the fuselage and will act as a partner in the design and manufacturing of the aircraft’s fuselage, including the wing box. Aciturri is involved in the design and development of the tail assembly, including the horizontal stabilizer that allows for better control at subsonic speeds.
The “heart” of Overture is the Symphony engine, showcased at Paris in a 1/3 scale 3D-printed model. According to Boom Supersonic, the new engine will have a lifespan that is 25% longer and operational costs that are 10% lower than current engines. The Symphony engine produces nearly 16 tons of thrust, features a 183 cm fan, three stages of low-pressure compression, six stages of high-pressure compression, one stage of high-pressure turbine, and three stages of low-pressure turbine.
