DENVER - Earlier this month, a demonstrator aircraft for what could be the first new civil supersonic plane to be launched since the 1960s took to the skies. It’s a milestone moment in the highly anticipated new era of supersonic travel, Maureen O'Hare reports for CNN. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
2 April 2024 - XB-1 was flown by Boom Chief Test Pilot Bill "Doc" Shoemaker and Test Pilot Tristan "Geppetto" Brandenburg flew the T-38 chase aircraft which monitored the flight. XB-1 took off from the Mojave Air & Space Port and met all of its test objectives, including successfully achieving an altitude of 7,120 feet and speeds up to 238 knots (273 mph).
The inaugural flight of the XB-1 demonstrator takes place as Overture continues to advance toward production, with a growing global network of Tier 1 suppliers and an order book including 130 orders and pre-orders from American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines. Overture will carry 64-80 passengers at Mach 1.7, about twice the speed of today's subsonic airliners. Optimized for speed, safety, and sustainability, Overture is designed to run on up to 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Related: Boom Supersonic announces first flight of its XB-1 aircraft
Related: Boom unveils supersonic XB-1 for the first time
Related: Boom Supersonic to roll out XB-1 demonstrator Oct. 7
Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
