In a major development, Boom Supersonic unveiled on August 24, 2023, significant strides in its journey towards conducting the inaugural test flight of the XB-1 demonstrator. This groundbreaking American startup has garnered an experimental airworthiness certificate sanctioned by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the XB-1. Additionally, it has obtained crucial letters of authorization, facilitating the forthcoming aircraft trials to be conducted by chief test pilot Bill “Doc” Shoemaker and test pilot Tristan “Gepetto” Brandenburg at the prominent Mojave Air & Space Port, located in California.
Boom Supersonic elaborated that the diligent preparations for the maiden flight encompass rigorous training regimens, including immersive simulator sessions and operational flights with T-38 aircraft, undertaken by both esteemed pilots.
Spanning a length of 71 feet, the XB-1 serves as a scaled-down prototype with the primary objective of validating pivotal technologies slated for employment in Boom Supersonic’s future supersonic airliner, the Overture. Poised to accommodate an estimated 65 to 80 passengers, the Overture aims to achieve remarkable speeds of up to Mach 1.7.
Leveraging the cutting-edge prowess of three General Electric J85 engines, the XB-1 has already demonstrated its capabilities through ground assessments and taxiing tests at the Mojave Air & Space Port.
While the General Electric J85 engine boasts a rich history of reliable turbojet performance spanning numerous decades, Boom Supersonic’s aspiration to conceive a supersonic airliner demands surmounting a significant challenge: the development of an entirely novel engine. In this pursuit, strategic collaboration with Kratos Defense and the enlistment of a former senior Boeing engineer exemplify Boom Supersonic’s resolute commitment to overcoming this hurdle.
