Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 Prototype Jet Achieves First Supersonic Flight | Science, Climate & Tech News
A prototype jet developed by a US company has successfully broken the sound barrier, showcasing a potential future for supersonic travel similar to the Concorde.
Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 is the first civilian aircraft to accomplish this milestone since the British-French Concorde was retired in 2003.
The XB-1 achieved supersonic speeds for the first time over California’s Mojave Desert.
The XB-1 demonstrator aircraft. Pic: Boom Supersonic
During the test, the jet ascended to 35,000 feet and then reached a speed of Mach 1.1 (844mph), which is 10% faster than the speed of sound.
The flight, piloted by Boom Supersonic’s chief test pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, saw Mach 1.1 achieved twice more during the flight.
A live stream provided coverage of the test flight as it happened.
The XB-1. Pic: Reuters
Based in Denver, Boom Supersonic is optimistic that the XB-1 will lead to the creation of Overture, the company’s planned supersonic commercial airliner.
The XB-1 measures approximately 63 feet in length, about one-third the size of Overture, which is designed to accommodate 64 to 80 passengers and operate at speeds of up to Mach 1.7.
These speeds would be nearly double that of conventional passenger jets, though still a bit slower than the Concorde.
Currently, Overture has amassed 130 pre-orders from airlines including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines.
A retired Concorde jet being moved to a museum in 2004. Pic: PA
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What happened to Concorde?
The Concorde was a British-French supersonic airliner that mainly operated flights between New York and London or Paris.
It could reach speeds of around Mach 2 (1,354 mph), more than twice the speed of sound, and typically carried about 100 passengers.
In July 2000, an Air France Concorde tragically crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all 109 individuals on board, as well as four people on the ground. This incident lead to a one-year grounding of the fleet.
Due to maintenance challenges, high operational costs, and the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks affecting air travel, British Airways and Air France ultimately retired the Concorde in 2003.
