CALIFORNIA – Boom Supersonic, an American company designing a supersonic airliner, announced January 28, that it successfully flew the first civil supersonic jet made in America.

The flight of Boom’s demonstrator aircraft, XB-1, took place at the Mojave Air & Space Port, flown by Boom Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg. 

Boom said the XB-1 reached 35,290 feet and accelerated to 750 mph, breaking the sound barrier for the first time.

“XB-1’s supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived,” said Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl. “A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars.” 

Scholl goes on to say that the company is now scaling up the technology used in the XB-1 for the Overture supersonic airliner. The ultimate goal is to make the benefits of supersonic flight available to everyone.

Commercial Boom planes will fly passengers at twice the speed of current planes

According to the U.S Air Force, the first recognized flight exceeding the speed of sound by a manned aircraft in controlled level flight was performed on October 14, 1947. Chuck Yeager piloted the experimental Bell X-1 research rocket plane.

“Historically, supersonic aircraft have been the work of nation states, developed by militaries and governments. XB-1’s supersonic flight marks the first time an independently developed jet has broken the sound barrier,” said the Boom news release.

Boom’s flagship model, Overture, will carry 64-80 passengers at nearly twice the speed—1,100 mph—of current airplanes, flying on more than 600 routes worldwide.

The company says Overture has an order book of 130 orders and pre-orders from American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines.

The Overture Superfactory in Greensboro, North Carolina, which will scale to produce 66 Overture aircraft per year.

Boom designed Overture and its engine, Symphony, to run on up to 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) – jet fuel made from renewable materials like plants or waste.

For more information on Boom Supersonic visit https://boomsupersonic.com/