The XB-1 supersonic jet from Boom Supersonic successfully completed its fifth test flight from Mojave Air and Space Port on October 7, setting several new records during the flight.
XB-1 is a 1/3 scale prototype that Boom Supersonic is using as the foundation for developing the Overture aircraft, with the goal of reviving commercial supersonic passenger flights, according to New Atlas.
XB-1 during its fifth test flight. (Photo: Boom).
Earlier this March, the world’s first private supersonic jet built by Boom Supersonic took off for the first time with pilot Bill “Doc” Shoemaker. In the fifth test flight, test pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg flew the XB-1 to an altitude of 5,425 meters at a speed of 791 km/h (Mach 0.69) during a 50-minute flight, marking the highest altitude and fastest speed the aircraft has achieved to date.
Boom Supersonic also tested the Flight Excitation System (FES). FES intentionally transmits vibrations into the aircraft’s structure, allowing engineers to detect potential structural issues, especially when flying at high speeds. As a result, no structural problems arose during the flight.
Boom Supersonic is gradually increasing the altitude and speed of the XB-1 rather than aiming for targets right away. The company plans to conduct five more flights before the aircraft is ready to break the sound barrier. The XB-1 serves as a testbed for Boom’s Overture, a supersonic commercial passenger aircraft designed to carry 64 to 80 passengers at a speed of Mach 1.7 (2,200 km/h). Overture will have a range of 7,869 km.
Although Overture will mainly operate over the ocean, the aircraft is designed to minimize sonic booms and meet the latest environmental standards. The jet engine, named Symphony, is designed by Boom and can operate at both low and high speeds, running on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
More than 20 years ago, the Concorde made its last flight. The Concorde began supersonic flights in 1969 at a speed of Mach 2 (approximately 2,180 km/h). While it could carry passengers from New York to London in under three hours, the aircraft faced two major issues. First, the Concorde was highly fuel-inefficient, consuming 25,629 liters per hour at that speed. Additionally, supersonic flight over land was restricted. As a result, the Concorde, a symbol in aviation history, was retired on October 24, 2003. Boom Supersonic aims to revive supersonic travel with Overture.
Thanks to its lower speeds, Overture can operate over land without producing sonic booms and can land on the same runways as commercial aircraft like the Boeing 737 or Airbus A380, without needing a 3,048-meter runway like the Concorde. Boom Supersonic plans to begin production of Overture in 2025, conduct test flights in 2027, and enter commercial service in 2029, assuming everything goes according to plan.
