Private Jet Breaks Sound Barrier in Historic Flight “`

Boom Supersonic’s XB-1, a privately developed aircraft, has achieved a historic milestone by exceeding the speed of sound, reaching Mach 1.1.

During a test flight over California’s Mojave Desert, Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 jet successfully broke the sound barrier, marking a significant advancement in faster air travel. The achievement, announced by the company, was accomplished three times during the flight piloted by Chief Test Pilot Tristan ‘Geppetto’ Brandenburg.

This makes the XB-1 the first privately developed aircraft to reach Mach 1.1 (approximately 770 mph or 1240 kph). Boom Supersonic founder and CEO Blake Scholl hailed the event as a major step forward for aviation and human progress, highlighting the team’s success in achieving what previously required substantial government funding and resources.

The company asserts that the XB-1’s supersonic flight confirms the viability of passenger supersonic flight technology. The test flight took place in the same airspace where Captain Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier in 1947.

This breakthrough significantly advances the development of Boom’s Overture, a commercial passenger aircraft designed to carry up to 80 passengers at twice the speed of current subsonic airliners. Boom has already secured 130 orders for the Overture from major airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines.

The Overture aims to be the first large commercial aircraft with net-zero carbon emissions, utilizing 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). However, the company acknowledges challenges inherent in supersonic flight, such as high fuel consumption and sonic booms, which will limit supersonic speeds over populated areas.

The XB-1’s achievement is the first supersonic flight by a civilian aircraft over the continental United States since the Concorde’s retirement.

The Concorde, a joint British and French project, was a pioneering supersonic passenger airliner. Entering commercial service in 1976, it significantly reduced transatlantic travel times, achieving speeds exceeding Mach 2.04 at altitudes up to 60,000 feet. However, high operational costs, low passenger numbers, and a fatal accident led to its retirement in 2003.