Boom XB-1 Achieves Sonic Boom-Free Flight, and More
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Boom XB-1 Achieves Boom-Free Supersonic Flight in Final Test Mission
Boom Supersonic's XB-1 demonstrator completed its final test flight yesterday (Feb 10), breaking the sound barrier three times while validating its "Boomless Cruise" technology.
The company has proven that supersonic flight without an audible sonic boom is possible, achieving Mach 1.1 through a phenomenon called Mach cutoff, where the sonic boom refracts upward in the atmosphere.
Key Points
- The XB-1 completed its 13th and final 41-minute test flight from Mojave Air & Space Port
- Specialized microphone arrays confirmed no sonic booms reached the ground during supersonic transitions
- The technology works by flying at specific altitudes where temperature gradients cause the sonic boom to refract before reaching the surface
- This breakthrough could enable Boom's upcoming Overture airliner to fly at Mach 1.3 over land, potentially reducing US coast-to-coast flight times by 90 minutes
- The company expects to reach a design freeze on Overture supersonic aircraft within a week and aims to have it ready for passengers by late 2029
- Major airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines, have already placed 130 pre-orders for Overture
What It Means
While previous attempts at supersonic travel were limited by sonic boom restrictions, Boom's demonstration of "Boomless Cruise" could finally unlock widespread supersonic flight over land.
However, I remain "optimistic yet cautious" about their 2029 timeline, given the complexity of certifying new aircraft technologies.
