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Boom Supersonic, a startup on a quest to bring back supersonic passenger jet travel, completed its first flight on Friday.
Why it matters: Boom is one of a handful of companies trying to revive supersonic air travel since Concorde ended operations 20 years ago.
- If successful, Boom will be able to transport passengers and cargo about twice as fast as today’s jets.
Driving the news: The XB-1 took to the skies above the Mojave Air & Space Port in California, marking a pivotal moment in the project's development.
- Launched at 7:28AM PT on Thursday, the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 7,120 feet, and a top speed of 246 knots (283 mph). It landed 12 minutes later at 7:40AM.
- Powered by GE J85-15 engines, the XB-1’s performance paves the way for later tests aiming to surpass MAch 1 speeds.
Zoom out: The startup is ultimately working towards developing its first supersonic aircraft, Overture, that aims to carry up to 80 passengers at speeds of Mach 1.7.
- It already has contracts with major airlines like American and United, as well as manufacturing and development partnerships with Florida Turbine Technologies and GE Additive.
- However, it has also been losing partnerships, most notably with Rolls-Royce to develop its engines.
What they’re saying: "Today, XB-1 took flight in the same hallowed airspace where the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier in 1947," Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic said.
- "I’ve been looking forward to this flight since founding Boom in 2014, and it marks the most significant milestone yet on our path to bring supersonic travel to passengers worldwide."
What’s next: Besides technological proof of concept, XB-1 serves another significant purpose: fundraising.
- Boom has raised $700 million so far, but the overall development of Overture could cost more than $8 billion.
