Boom Supersonic XB-1 Test Flights Toward Supersonic Passenger Jets in 2030-2035
The Boom XB-1 Baby Boom is a one-third-scale trijet supersonic demonstrator designed by Boom Technology as part of development of the Boom Overture supersonic transport airliner. It is powered by three General Electric J85s, it is planned to maintain Mach 2.2, with over 1,000 nautical miles.
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The XB-1 took its first flight on March 22, 2024, flown by Chief Test Pilot Bill Shoemaker from Mojave Air and Space Port.
On April 16, 2024, the FAA issued a special license for the XB-1 to exceed Mach 1 at the nearby Black Mountain Supersonic Corridor. Test flights to Mach 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 are planned for later in 2024.
On August 26, 2024, the XB-1 lifted off from Mojave, California, for its second test flight, piloted by chief test pilot Tristan Brandenburg.
The XB-1 Baby Boom is 68 feet (21 m) long with a 17 ft (5.2 m) wingspan and a 13,500-pound (6,100 kg) maximum take-off weight.
In 2022, the Overture was redesigned to a quadjet configuration.
Boom Funding Towards a Commercial Supersonic Passenger Plane
Boom claims to have raised over $700m from mostly undisclosed angel investors and also recently from Saudi Arabia NEOM.
In January 2019, Boom raised a further $100 million, bringing the total to $151 million, then planning the demonstrator first flight for later in 2019.
In January 2022, the company announced plans to build a 400,000 square feet (37,161 square meter) manufacturing facility on a 65 acres (263,046 m2) site at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina.
In November 2023, a representative of the NEOM Investment Fund announced their investment in Boom at an undisclosed amount.
Supersonic Passenger Plane 2029-2035
The Boom Overture is a proposed Mach 1.7 (1,000 kn; 1,800 km/h; 1,100 mph), 65- to 88-passenger supersonic transport with a planned 4,250 nmi (7,870 km; 4,890 mi) of range. They will have 500 viable routes. Boom suggests there could be a market for 1,000 supersonic airliners with business class fares. They had gathered 76 commitments by December 2017 and another 35 from United and American Airlines in 2021 and 2022.
Boom CEO Blake Scholl estimates that flights on Overture will be available in 2030.
In December 2022, Boom announced the Symphony, a new propulsion system to be designed for the Overture.
Boom Supersonic is participating in a NASA-led study to develop concept designs and technology roadmaps for a Mach 4 airliner. Boom is part of a team led by Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems, alongside Blue Ridge Research and Consulting and Rolls-Royce North American Technologies.