Boom Supersonic

Each phase of the XB-1 program represents a milestone toward safe supersonic flight. “A meaningful test that we did early on was the cockpit pressure test, which cleared the way to the high altitude flights that finish off the program.”—Warren Koenig, Chief Engineer

From welding the landing gear to building the titanium aft fuse structure, the XB-1 team knows how to get it done. “The landing gear is made of an exotic material called AirMet 100 (a specialty alloy), and we had to figure out how to make our own welding rod. We designed, developed, and manufactured the welding rod and then welded the landing gear.”—Kevin Witte, Flight Test Technician

Sometimes, being last means you got it right. Boom Founder & CEO Blake Scholl finally got to sit in XB-1’s cockpit after its 13th and final flight. Why wait so long? Safety. Restricting access to the aircraft, and especially the cockpit, is critical for safety during a flight test program. That’s why Blake and the majority of our team didn’t touch the aircraft until its retirement.

“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.”—Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, Chief Test Pilot for Boom Supersonic

XB-1 took flight sciences to the next level. “It was a difficult process, but it was an amazing process. Everyone in my group is very happy, and very grateful, to have taken part in this aircraft program.” —Mihalis Veletas, Lead Flight Sciences Engineer

“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 #1 choice as a successor to Concorde.”—Mike Bannister, former Chief Concorde Pilot for British Airways

The XB-1 team, in a nutshell. “Proud to be part of such a badass team here at Boom Supersonic.”—Nicholas Emory, Avionics Technician

What do you call a sonic boom that doesn’t reach the ground? Boomless Cruise. The XB-1 flight test program demonstrated that supersonic flight without the disturbance of a sonic boom is possible—opening the door to quiet supersonic travel over land onboard Overture, our supersonic commercial airliner. Teams on the ground confirmed that XB-1 broke the sound barrier six times without an audible sonic boom reaching the ground. Boomless Cruise is based on well-established physics known as Mach cutoff, in which a sonic boom refracts in the atmosphere and never reaches the ground. This effect is achieved by breaking the sound barrier at a high enough altitude, with exact speeds varying based on atmospheric conditions.

3 supersonic runs, no audible sonic boom on the ground. Watch the recorded livestream of XB-1’s 13th and final flight with Founder & CEO Blake Scholl and Chief Flight Test Engineer Nick Sheryka. 

“Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.”―Theodore Roosevelt Happy President’s Day