Boom Supersonic reached a significant milestone in aviation history on January 28, 2025. Its XB-1 successfully demonstrated aircraft by brokering the sound barrier for the first time.
This landmark event happened at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California, making the XB-1 the first civil aircraft to go supersonic over the continental United States.
The flight was piloted by Boom’s Chief Test Pilot, Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, who guided the aircraft to an altitude of 35,290 feet and reached speeds of Mach 1.122, approximately 750 mph.
Gerg Krauland, the former chief engineer for Boom Supersonic, said, “This jet does have a lot of the enabling technologies that are going to enable us to build a supersonic airliner for the masses.”
The XB-1, often called “Baby Boom,” is a third-scale prototype designed to test technologies utilized in Boom’s future commercial airliner, Overture. This achievement is notable for its technical implications and the shift in supersonic aviation development from government-led projects to privately funded initiatives.
Historically, supersonic jets like the Concorde were developed through national efforts; however, Boom’s success demonstrates that independent companies can achieve similar feats with significantly less investment.
Blake School, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, stated, “XB-1’s supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived.” He emphasized that this accomplishment was achieved by a small team of dedicated engineers and heralded a new era for commercial aviation.
Scholl further noted that they are now focused on scaling up the technology development in XV-1 for the Overture airliner, aiming to make supersonic travel accessible to a broader audience.
The XB-1 has completed 11 test flights since its inaugural flight in March 2024. During its historic flight on January 28, it not only broke the sound barrier but also exceeded March 1 two additional times during the mission to validate its handling performance at supersonic speeds.
Boom Supersonic has secured 130 orders and pre-orders for Overture from major airlines, including American Airlines and Japan Airlines. The company plans to conduct further test flights as it continues refining its technology and preparing for commercial operations.
As the aerospace industry looks forward to a new chapter in supersonic travel, the successful flight of the XB-1 stands as a testament to innovation and ambition in aviation technology.
