Boom Supersonic's XB-1 Demonstrator Achieves Final Supersonic Flight, Paving Way for Overture Airliner

Boom Supersonic's XB-1 demonstrator jet completed its 13th and final test flight on Monday, reaching supersonic speeds three times. The flight, which lasted approximately 41 minutes, took place at the Mojave Air & Space Port in California. This test flight marked the culmination of the XB-1's program, designed to validate technologies for Boom's Overture, a planned commercial supersonic jet. The XB-1, about one-third the size of Overture, previously achieved its first supersonic flight on January 28, 2024. The company aims to finalize Overture's design and engine specifications soon, with plans to begin construction within 18 months and initiate flight tests in under four years. Boom Supersonic targets passenger flights by the end of 2029. During Monday's flight, the XB-1 generated three sonic booms, none of which were audible on the ground due to a cutoff altitude of approximately 7,000 feet (2,134 meters). This altitude ensures that sonic boom waves refract upward, mitigating noise concerns. Boom Supersonic aims to revive supersonic commercial flight, following in the footsteps of the Concorde, which ceased operations in 2003.