The XB-1 test jet aircraft developed by a US start-up Boom Supersonic has successfully broke the sound barrier for the first time during a flight over California’s Mojave Desert, marking what its developers assert could signify a new chapter in air travel.
The experimental plane has become the first privately developed aircraft to attain Mach 1.1 (approximately 770 mph or 1,240 kph) as of today.
Piloted by the chief test pilot Tristan ‘Geppetto’ Brandenburg, the aircraft reached supersonic speeds on three separate occasions during the flight.
According to Blake Scholl, the founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, the milestone achievement was “a significant day for all of us, for America, for aviation, and for human advancement.”
XB-1 supersonic flight means that the technology for passenger supersonic travel is now available, thanks to a small group of skilled and committed engineers having achieved what once required substantial government investment and billions of dollars.
The XB-1 test flight was conducted in the same area where, in 1947, US Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager made history as the first pilot to surpass the sound barrier, piloting the experimental Bell X-1 aircraft at a speed of Mach 1.05 and an altitude of 45,000 feet.
The XB-1 breakthrough is the first instance of a civil aircraft breaking the speed of sound over the continental United States since the retirement of the Concorde.
The Concorde was an innovative supersonic passenger aircraft created through a collaboration between Britain and France. Its maiden flight took place on March 2, 1969, and it commenced commercial operations in 1976.
With the capability to cruise at speeds exceeding twice the speed of sound (Mach 2.04) at altitudes reaching 60,000 feet, the Concorde notably shortened transatlantic travel duration, completing the journey from London to New York in approximately three hours. Nevertheless, due to exorbitant operational expenses, limited passenger capacity, and a tragic accident in 2000, the Concorde was ultimately retired in 2003.
The XB-1 breakthrough is seen as a major advancement in the development of Boom’s commercial passenger aircraft, the Overture. Capable of accommodating up to 80 passengers, the Overture is anticipated to operate at twice the speed of current subsonic airliners, as stated by Boom.
Boom Supersonic has already received 130 orders for the Overture from prominent airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines.