Boom Supersonic to Test New Concorde Successor by Breaking the Sound Barrier

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Boom Supersonic is preparing for a historic test flight of its XB-1 prototype, aimed at becoming the first successor to the famed Concorde passenger jet. Scheduled for Tuesday, the flight will take place above the Mojave Desert in California, where the aircraft is expected to exceed Mach 1 during a series of four-minute runs.

The test flight will last between 30 and 45 minutes, with the XB-1 achieving a cruising speed of Mach 1.1 in designated supersonic corridors near Edwards Air Force Base. This location holds historical significance as it is where Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier in 1947.

Boom has successfully conducted 11 test flights since March of the previous year, with recent flights reaching speeds of Mach 0.95. The XB-1 is a smaller prototype compared to Boom's planned passenger jet, the Overture, which is designed to carry approximately 65 passengers at speeds of Mach 1.7—twice the speed of current commercial aircraft.

Despite receiving preliminary orders from major airlines including United and American, Boom faces significant challenges ahead, including the need for billions in funding and achieving a viable engine design. Additionally, the industry is under growing pressure to meet carbon neutrality goals by 2050, which raises questions about the environmental impact of supersonic travel. However, Boom’s founder Blake Scholl has expressed confidence that the Overture can utilize sustainable aviation fuel to help fulfill these commitments.

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