A sleek white aircraft, the XB-1, has become the first independently developed jet to break the sound barrier, reaching Mach 1.05 in just 11 minutes after takeoff. The aircraft, made from lightweight carbon fiber, was tested at the Mojave Air & Space Port in California and is a key step towards reviving supersonic passenger travel.
Boom Supersonic, the company behind the XB-1, plans to focus next on the Overture airliner, which will carry up to 80 passengers at speeds of around twice that of today’s subsonic airliners. The company’s founder and CEO, Blake Scholl, believes that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has finally arrived, citing the accomplishments of a small team of engineers.
The XB-1’s supersonic flight has been hailed as a significant milestone, with the National Aeronautic Association’s president and CEO, Amy Marino Spowart, stating that the future of aviation is now. The flight also marks a significant step towards sustainable supersonic travel, with Boom Supersonic’s technology designed to minimize sonic booms and reduce environmental impact.
However, any new supersonic passenger service will likely face the same challenges as the Concorde, which was banned from many overland routes due to the sonic booms it caused. The Concorde was also expensive to operate and maintain, which made it unviable for commercial use.
Boom Supersonic is one of several companies working on supersonic passenger travel, with others including Aerion, Spike Aerospace, and Lockheed Martin. The development of supersonic travel is expected to be a long and challenging process, but the success of the XB-1 is a significant step forward.