Boom Supersonic has completed its first successful supersonic flight of its XB-1 demonstrator aircraft that is the precursor to its first supersonic airliner, called Overture.
After numerous test flights that broached the supersonic barrier, the XB-1 entered the supersonic corridor and reached an altitude of 35,290 feet before accelerating to Mach 1.122, or 750 mph, breaking the sound barrier for the first time.
The company said this is the first time an independently developed jet has broken the sound barrier.
The flight took place at the Mojave Air & Space Port in California and was flown by test pilot Tristan Brandenburg.
The XB-1 test aircraft features many of the same technologies that will be used in its supersonic passenger airliner such as:
- Carbon fiber composites
- Digital stability augmentation
- Augmented reality vision system
- Supersonic intakes
Breaking the sound barrier follows the completion of 11 human piloted test flights that began in March of 2024. The flights tested various systems for subsonic, transonic and supersonic speeds while also testing landing gear, safety systems and more.
When operational, Overture will be capable of carrying 64 to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7, about twice the speed of subsonic airlines. It will be able to reach travel to over 600 global routes.
