A prototype passenger jet has broken the sound barrier in a demonstration that could pave the way for a successor to Concorde
The XB-1 is the first privately-developed aircraft to achieve the feat since the British-French supersonic airliner, which was retired in 2003, and the first made in the U.S.
The jet reached an altitude of 35,000ft before accelerating to Mach 1.1 (844mph) over the Mojave Desert in California – the same airspace where Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier for the first time in 1947.
A live stream showed the test flight as it happened.
Denver-based Boom Supersonic hopes the XB-1 will “pave the way” for the development of Overture, the company’s supersonic carbon fibre commercial airliner.
Overture will carry 64-80 passengers at Mach 1.7, about twice the speed of today’s subsonic airliners, on over 600 global routes.
It is also designed on up to 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
According to Boom Supersonic, it has 130 orders for the Overture already, and pre-orders from carriers including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines.
Boom’s founder and CEO, Blake Scholl, said: “XB-1’s supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived.
“A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars.
Next, we are scaling up the technology on XB-1 for the Overture supersonic airliner. Our ultimate goal is to bring the benefits of supersonic flight to everyone.”
The XB-1 demonstrator is around 63ft-long, around one-third the size of Overture, and went on to reach Mach 1.1 twice more during the test flight.
Chief test pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg said: “It has been a privilege and a highlight of my career to be a part of the team that achieved this milestone—every single member of this team was critical to our success.
“Our discipline and methodical approach to this flight test program created the safety culture that made a safe and successful first supersonic flight possible.
“With the lessons learned from XB-1, we can continue to build the future of supersonic travel.”
Images: Boom Supersonic
