Boom Supersonic successfully tested its fifth flight test with its demonstrator aircraft, called the XB-1, as part of the company’s planned 10 subsonic flights before testing supersonic speeds.
The first subsonic test was completed in March, followed by the second flight in August. The fifth test is halfway through the company’s planned 10 flights that will take place the rest of this year and maybe into 2025.
Once completed, Boom will look to test supersonic speeds after it was cleared to test beyond Mach 1 by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) earlier this year.
The XB-1 demonstrator aircraft is designed to be the foundation for Boom’s Overture supersonic airliner that will be used to carry passengers at supersonic speeds globally. The XB-1 uses:
- Digitally optimized aerodynamics
- Carbon fiber composites
- Supersonic engine intakes
- Augmented reality vision system for takeoff and landing visibility
The 5th flight
During the fifth flight, the XB-1 reached an altitude of 17,800 feet while flying at 0.69 mach. The flight took about 50 minutes.
During the flight, Boom tested the XB-1 for its landing gear up right after takeoff; continued to test the flutter excitation system at Mach 0.6; and how the aircraft handles quality, flutter and pacer checks at higher speeds.
