Program Targets Mach 1 By the End of the Year

The Boom XB-1 successfully completed its fourth flight on September 21, 2024, at the Mojave Air & Space Port in California. It lasted 48 minutes and reached a top speed of Mach 0.617, along with a maximum altitude of 16,150 feet.

This achievement came just eight days after the aircraft’s third flight.

The XB-1 was designed as a one-third-scale demonstrator for Boom Technology's anticipated supersonic airliner, the Overture. It incorporates digitally optimized aerodynamics and carbon fiber composites, plus a supersonic engine intake system and an augmented reality vision system to enhance visibility during take-off and landing.

“The XB-1 program provides the foundation for the design and development of Overture, Boom’s supersonic airliner, while establishing a safety-first culture,” Boom stated.

The XB-1 made its inaugural flight in March 2024, marking a significant advancement for supersonic civil aviation. Chief Test Pilot Bill “Doc” Shoemaker navigated the aircraft to an altitude of 7,120 feet and speeds up to 238 knots (273 mph). This flight tested the aircraft’s handling qualities and stability during airspeed checks and at the high-angle landing attitude.

Flight 2, conducted on August 26, involved retraction and extension of the XB-1’s landing gear for the first time. The team also evaluated the new digital stability augmentation system, which intends to improve the aircraft’s handling characteristics based on data collected from earlier flights.

Just two weeks after the second flight, the XB-1 took back to the skies to test systems and performance as they expanded the flight envelope. The pilot brought the XB-1 to its maximum pitch and yaw attitudes at a high altitude.

The XB-1 performed its highest and fastest flight on September 21, putting Boom over halfway towards its Mach 1 goal. The team expects to achieve this milestone by the end of the year, though they aim to carry out at least six more flight tests before then.

In the meantime, Boom is kicking off the construction of its Overture manufacturing factory in Greensboro. The company hopes to make its first run of the assembly line in late 2025, with flights starting in 2026 and passenger operations by 2029.

FMI: www.boomsupersonic.com