XB-1 pushes limits, reigniting supersonic travel

For the first time in over two decades, a human-piloted passenger jet has gone supersonic.

Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 prototype successfully reached Mach 1.122 (860 mph) over the Mojave Desert, marking a major milestone in the push to bring back commercial supersonic flight. 

The XB-1 is a scaled-down prototype of Boom’s planned Overture jet, which aims to carry up to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7 – twice the speed of today’s airliners. With transatlantic flights potentially shrinking to just 3.5 hours, airlines like United, American, and Japan Airlines have already placed 130 orders for the aircraft. 

Unlike the retired Concorde, Overture is designed for efficiency and sustainability. Its novel turbofan engine eliminates the need for a noisy afterburner, and its carbon fiber airframe reduces weight and fuel consumption. CEO Blake Scholl sees this as a historic breakthrough: “A small team has done what once took governments and billions of dollars. Our goal is to make supersonic travel accessible to all.” 

Still, some challenges remain. Competing projects from NASA and Lockheed Martin are developing quieter supersonic jets, while Boeing eyes hypersonic speeds. But affordability may be the biggest hurdle. 

Myles Corey, founder of Spaero, offered his take: “With supersonic flight back in play, the race is no longer about going faster—it’s about making it work for the world.”

Source: dezeen