Boom, a startup developing a new generation of supersonic aircraft, has reached an important milestone after its test aircraft broke the sound barrier for the first time. The XB-1 “Baby Boom”, piloted by Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, flew the Bell X-1 supersonic corridor over the Mojave Desert. The XB-1 reached Mach 1.1 at an altitude of 35,000 feet a few minutes before it exited the airspace authorized for supersonic flights. The aircraft broke the sound barrier a total of three times before returning to base. This is the first time a civilian aircraft has broken the sound barrier while flying over the United States.
Since 2020, the aircraft has been undergoing a flurry of tests, and a series of subsonic test flights will begin in March 2024 and last until the end of the year. At the same time, the company is signing agreements with major airlines, including United and American, to supply passenger aircraft for civil aviation. This aircraft, called Overture, has a planned maximum speed of Mach 1.7 (equivalent to 1,305 miles per hour), which will cut existing travel times in half. At least for those who can afford the ticket.
