The skies over the Mojave Desert witnessed a historic leap towards the revival of commercial supersonic travel as Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 demonstrator, affectionately known as “Baby Boom,” completed its first test flight. Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, captured the sentiment of the aerospace community when he said, “Today, XB-1 took flight in the same hallowed airspace where the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier in 1947.” The test represents not only a nod to the past but a blazon path forward for the aviation industry.
The XB-1’s maiden voyage may have been subsonic—reaching an altitude of 7,120 feet with a top speed of 273 mph—but it signifies a crucial step in testing the technologies that will underpin the much-anticipated Overture airliner. This first flight over the Mojave, where aviation milestones are almost tradition, saw Chief Test Pilot Bill “Doc” Shoemaker take the controls, demonstrating the aircraft’s airworthiness and the team’s prowess. Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg supported as pilot of the T-38 chase aircraft, closely monitoring XB-1’s performance.
The XB-1’s journey to the skies wasn’t merely a show of technological achievement; it symbolized the tangible progress of an endeavor ripe with challenges. Boom Supersonic has already raised over $700 million, but the financial road map to bring Overture to fruition is estimated at a formidable $8 billion. The recently severed partnership with engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce signifies bumps along the runway, compelling Boom to develop its own engines, named Symphony, to power Overture. Despite the obstacles, Boom has secured a vote of confidence from industry heavyweights with pre-orders from airlines like American and United.
Looking at the XB-1, its design is a stark departure from the Overture, using a trio of vintage J85 turbojet engines compared to the future’s Symphony engines. Yet, Scholl considers the differences as evidence of progress, stating, “If your prototype looks exactly like your production airplane, it actually implies you’ve learned nothing. And we’ve learned a lot of things from XB-1 through the design, development, manufacturing that have caused us to improve Overture.”
As the XB-1 embarks on a series of up to 15 test flights planned throughout the year, the milestones will draw a map for Overture’s ascension. The future supersonic jet will be a 201-foot-long marvel, promising to halve travel times over oceans, aiming for Mach 1.7 speeds while adhering to noise regulations over land. Sustainability forms the core of this endeavor, with Boom’s commitment to carbon-neutral flights using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Boom’s ambition resonates beyond the aerospace community to echo in the corridors of states like North Carolina, where the company plans to build its Overture “superfactory” in Greensboro, heralding job creation and state-of-the-art manufacturing.
The Mojave’s skies are no stranger to breaking barriers, having heard the sonic boom of the Bell X-1 in 1947. With XB-1’s successful sortie, Boom Supersonic whispers promises of a future where the sound barrier is not a limit but a gateway to a smaller world, where distances shrink under the roar of supersonic travel.
Relevant articles:
– Boom’s first test flight could signal the return of supersonic air travel
– Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 Demonstrator Flies For The First Time, The Aviationist, Sat, 23 Mar 2024 07:13:21 GMT
– Boom Supersonic successfully flies XB-1, paving way for future Overture jet to be built in Greensboro, WGHP FOX8 Greensboro, Fri, 22 Mar 2024 20:28:34 GMT
– Colorado startup Boom Supersonic’s plane flies for the first time, The Business Journals, Fri, 22 Mar 2024 20:46:00 GMT