Giving a new turn to civil aviation history, Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 demonstrator aircraft successfully pierced the sound barrier. Executed in California’s Mojave desert, this marks the first supersonic flight for a civil aircraft.
In its twelfth test flight, the aircraft conceived by the American startup showcased its power, achieving Mach 1, and even maintained a supersonic speed for around four minutes, peaking at Mach 1.1. Test pilot Tristan Brandenburg managed to replicate this astounding feat twice during the flight before being instructed to return to the Mojave Air & Space Port.
Around eight years have passed since the unveiling of the XB-1. It’s an abbreviated version of Boom’s dream project, the 64-seat airliner, Overture. In a recent note, Boom CEO Blake Scholl highlighted the efforts put into scaling up to Overture, expecting to fire up the Overture’s engine for the first time later this year.
On completion, Overture already anticipates a significant clientele. Both American and Japan Airlines have declared interest with orders for this futuristic supersonic aircraft.
The XB-1 touched down safely around noon ET. As per Boom’s statement, a subsequent supersonic test flight could be scheduled in the following weeks. Comparing this revolutionary aviation milestone to SpaceX’s first rocket reaching orbit in 2008, Scholl dubbed this as the ‘Falcon 1’ moment for supersonic flights.
Breaking new grounds, XB-1’s flight symbolizes the first time the sonic barrier has been breached by a non-governmental entity, shifting away from the precedent set by the Concorde- a joint venture between the British and French governments.
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Original source: Read the full article on TechCrunch
