GabyA London-to-New York flight in just 3.5 hours sounds like science fiction. But in about four years, that could be reality — the prototype has already finished extensive ground testing.
The world’s fastest airliner is already taking shape
The Boom Supersonic Overture, nicknamed the “Son of Concorde,” is designed to reach speeds of about 2,092 km/h.
A scaled-down prototype, the XB-1 Baby Boom, has completed key ground-test milestones on the way to its first flight, the company says. If testing goes well, Boom plans to unveil Overture in 2026, fly the airliner in 2027, and begin commercial service in 2029.
Earlier this year, the XB-1 moved from Boom’s hangar in Colorado to the Mojave Air and Space Port in California to continue final flight preparations. The company says it has completed taxi testing — trials that check whether the airplane can roll down the runway at speed without taking off.
The Daily Mail reported that Blake Scholl, Boom’s founder and CEO, said the recent progress toward the XB-1’s first flight reflects the team’s work to build and safely operate the world’s first independently developed supersonic jet. At 18.8 meters long, the XB-1 is roughly one-third the length of the full-scale Overture (61 meters), which is expected to carry up to 80 passengers for business and leisure travel.
Greener, quieter, and built to run on sustainable fuels
Overture, still in development, is being designed to operate on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from renewable sources. Boom also says the jet will produce a quieter sonic boom than the original Concorde.
The Overture will use four engines mounted on its wings, so each engine requires less thrust; Boom says that lowers overall noise levels.
Overture’s planned top speed is roughly 2,092 km/h, a bit below Concorde’s maximum cruising speed of about 2,180 km/h. Despite that, airlines focused on cutting their carbon footprints are already lining up to place orders.
Along with the successful taxi tests, Boom says one third of its XB-1 production has received an experimental flight certificate, which allows manufacturers to conduct flight testing on unconventional designs. The company says the certificate followed a thorough inspection, and airspace authorities have approved flights over the Mojave Desert.
‘Son of Concorde’ returns to the birthplace of supersonic flight
Boom plans to fly the XB-1 in the same airspace where the first manned airplane broke the sound barrier. Captain Charles “Chuck” Yeager first exceeded the speed of sound in the Bell X-1 in October 1947; that rocket-powered plane reached about 1,127 km/h.
Bill Shoemaker, Boom’s chief test pilot, says it’s fitting the XB-1 is heading to the Mojave Air and Space Port — the site of more than 50 first flights and other aviation milestones. He says he looks forward to flying the XB-1 there, drawing inspiration from the engineers and pilots who pushed supersonic flight forward.
Boom Supersonic is one of several companies developing commercial airliners nicknamed the “Sons of Concorde,” all vying to succeed the British-French plane that first flew in March 1969.
Concorde began commercial service in 1976 but was retired in October 2003 after the crash of Air France Flight 4590. Other factors included high fuel costs, noise concerns, and passenger demand for lower fares over speed. Since then, no manufacturer or government has brought a commercial supersonic airliner back into regular service.
