Aerospace

Video: Supersonic aircraft approved for flight testing

25 August 2023

Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 aircraft has received an experimental airworthiness certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and has secure authorization to test fly the aircraft over the Mojave Desert.

The authorization includes letters of agreement with airspace authorities to allow pilots Bill Shoemaker and Tristan Brandenburg to test the XB-1 supersonic aircraft in the desert. The first flight will occur over the same airspace where Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier.

“It’s fitting that XB-1 is now progressing toward first flight at the Mojave Air & Space Port, home to more than 50 first flights and other significant aviation events,” Shoemaker said. “I’m looking forward to flying XB-1 here, building on the achievements of other talented engineers and pilots who inspire us every day to make supersonic travel mainstream.”

The test pilots have already completed hundreds of hours in the simulator for aircraft evaluation, operations development, training and human factors assessments. The XB-1 has also undergone ground testing including taxi testing since arriving at the Mojave Air & Space Port.

In the video, the XB-1 is taxiing on the runway in the Mojave Desert. The aircraft makes it up to 60 knots before powering down. The taxi testing is part of development that will lead to future flight testing it was approved for.

To contact the author of this article, email PBrown@globalspec.com


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