First Time Gear Retracted And Extended

Boom Supersonic announced its XB-1 demonstrator aircraft executed its second flight successfully at Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California. XB-1 continues to progress through its flight test program and providing a foundation for the development of Overture, the company’s supersonic airliner.

As is typical of second test flights, the landing gear was cycled through retraction and extension for the first time, successfully. The other objectives for the flight were for the XB-1 team to assess the handling qualities of the aircraft and to activate a newly-added digital stability augmentation system – a roll damper – which was added in response to information gleaned from the first flight. And to verify the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft, tufting was applied to the right wing to observe and evaluate the strength and direction of the airflow across the wing.

Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic said, “XB-1 had a fantastic second flight this morning. Initial results indicate we’ve successfully resolved the findings from Flight One and are excited to continue flight testing on the path to supersonic flight. I’m proud of the team. Today’s flight is another step toward the return of supersonic passenger travel.”

For Boom’s Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg this was his first time at the controls of XB-1. He previously flew the T-38 chase plane for XB-1’s first flight and will pilot XB-1 for the balance of the flight test program, including the first supersonic flight.

FMI:  boomsupersonic.com/