America's first civilian supersonic jet has broken the sound barrier in the historic Mojave airspace. On January 28, 2025, Boom's demonstrator aircraft, the XB-1, completed its successful inaugural supersonic flight at the Mojave Air & Space Port in California. Boom is credited with designing, constructing, and flying the world's first independently developed supersonic jet, marking the creation of America's first civil supersonic jet.
Piloted by Boom Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, the XB-1 entered the supersonic corridor, reaching an altitude of 35,290 feet before accelerating to Mach 1.122 (652 KTAS or 750 mph), thereby breaking the sound barrier for the first time. Traditionally, nation-states have created supersonic aircraft, developed by military and governmental bodies. The XB-1's supersonic flight represents the first instance of an independently developed jet breaking the sound barrier.
“XB-1’s supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived,” said Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl. “A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars. Next, we are scaling up the technology on XB-1 for the Overture supersonic airliner. Our ultimate goal is to bring everyone the benefits of supersonic flight.”
The XB-1, the first supersonic jet developed using airliner technology, includes several essential features also present in the Overture, like carbon fibre composites, digital stability enhancement, and an augmented reality vision system to improve landing visibility.
After its first flight in March 2024, XB-1 underwent an extensive set of 11 human-piloted test flights in progressively demanding conditions to assess its systems and aerodynamics. Throughout the flight test campaign, the XB-1 team methodically broadened the flight envelope through subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds, prioritizing safety and taking calculated risks.
“It has been a privilege and a highlight of my career to be a part of the team that achieved this milestone, every single member of this team was critical to our success,” said Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, Chief Test Pilot for Boom Supersonic. “Our discipline and methodical approach to this flight test program created the safety culture that made a safe and successful first supersonic flight possible. With the lessons learned from XB-1, we can continue to build the future of supersonic travel.”
XB-1 lays the groundwork for Overture by validating essential technologies and fostering a culture focused on safety. The technologies demonstrated through XB-1's testing program, which will also be utilized in Overture, include:
Augmented reality vision system: XB-1 and Overture both have a long nose and a high angle of attack for takeoff and landing, which makes it difficult for pilots to see the runway in front of them. Both aircraft leverage an augmented reality vision system to enable excellent runway visibility—without the weight and complexity of a moveable nose like Concorde’s.
Digitally-optimized aerodynamics: Engineers used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to explore thousands of designs for XB-1. The result is an optimized design that combines safe and stable operation at takeoff and landing with efficiency at supersonic speeds. CFD is also used extensively in the Overture program.
Carbon fibre composites: Both XB-1 and Overture are almost entirely made from carbon fibre composite materials, resulting in a sophisticated aerodynamic design with a strong, lightweight structure.
Supersonic intakes: XB-1’s engine intakes slow supersonic air to subsonic speeds, efficiently converting kinetic energy into pressure energy and allowing conventional jet engines to power XB-1 from takeoff through supersonic flight. Learnings from the development of XB-1’s specialized intakes are being applied to Overture and its purpose-built turbofan engine, Symphony.
XB-1’s supersonic flight took place in the same historic airspace where Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier for the first time in 1947, among many other historic firsts. The first supersonic flight of XB-1 marks the first human-piloted civil supersonic flight since Concorde’s retirement over 20 years ago, paving the way for the return of commercial supersonic flight onboard Overture.
Overture will transport 64-80 passengers at Mach 1.7, approximately double the speed of current subsonic airliners, across more than 600 international routes.
“I’ve been waiting over 20 years for the return of supersonic speeds, and XB-1’s historic flight is a major landmark towards my dreams being realized.,” said Mike Bannister, former Chief Concorde Pilot for British Airways. “When I last flew Concorde in 2003, I knew this day would come. Boom is well on its way towards making sustainable supersonic flight a reality, aboard Overture—my no.1 choice as a successor to Concorde. Congratulations to Blake Scholl, all at Boom and especially its pilot, Tristan ‘Geppetto’ Brandenburg. Having been Concorde’s Chief Pilot I envy his role in this exciting return towards mainstream supersonic flight.”
Overture has secured 130 orders and pre-orders from American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines. By 2024, Boom finished building the Overture Superfactory in Greensboro, North Carolina, which is set to scale up to manufacture 66 Overture aircraft annually. Designed for speed, safety, and sustainability, Overture and its custom propulsion system, Symphony, are engineered to operate on up to 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
“Congratulations to Boom Supersonic on the groundbreaking achievement of its first supersonic flight,” said Jim Currier, President and CEO of Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “For generations, Honeywell has supported aircraft programs that build a brighter future for aviation, and we’re proud that our Honeywell Anthem integrated flight deck will help do exactly that for Boom’s Overture aircraft. We look forward to continuing our work with Boom to bring to life state-of-the-art technologies that reduce pilot workload and increase safety.”
“Beginning in 1905, the National Aeronautic Association recognized aviation’s most historic events, including breaking the sound barrier in 1947 and the moon landing in 1969. XB-1 has continued to prove that Blake’s dream is in line with the achievements that have come before,” said Amy Marino Spowart, President and CEO of the National Aeronautic Association. “This flight is a testament to dreaming and doing, which is the heart of the legendary feats of aviation that have got us to this day. The future of aviation is here and now. Not only is there hope for faster and better commercial flight, but Boom proves that it can be done sustainably.”
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