The Boom Supersonic aircraft has reached supersonic speeds. The XB-1 prototype successfully broke the sound barrier over the Mojave Air and Space Port in California, USA. With chief test pilot Tristan Brandenburg at the controls, the jet reached a speed of Mach 1.122.
The flight took place in a designated supersonic testing corridor over California—the same airspace where Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier in level flight with the X-1 in 1947.
Reaching an altitude of 19,756 meters, the Boom XB-1 is the first commercial crewed supersonic aircraft since Concorde was retired in 2003. It is also the first privately funded supersonic jet and the first supersonic aircraft of its kind to be developed in the United States.
The flight was not just about setting a new record—it also served as a testbed for key technologies intended for the Boom Overture, a supersonic airliner expected to enter service in 2029. Designed to carry up to 80 passengers at speeds of up to Mach 1.7, the Overture aims to operate on more than 600 routes worldwide.
These technologies include:
- An augmented reality vision system that enables pilots to see forward during takeoff and landing, compensating for the aircraft’s elongated, needle-like nose.
- Digitally optimized aerodynamics, designed to maintain stability at both supersonic and subsonic speeds.
- Carbon composite materials for the aircraft’s construction, along with custom-designed supersonic air intakes for the Symphony turbofan engine—a component Boom expects to develop into a standalone product line.
The Overture airliner will not be able to bypass FAA regulations prohibiting commercial supersonic flights over U.S. land. Instead, it will have to wait until it reaches open ocean to exceed the speed of sound. However, Boom claims that its design will allow it to fly about 20% faster than conventional airliners over land, reaching speeds of approximately Mach 0.94.
“It has been a privilege and the highlight of my career to be part of the team that achieved this milestone—every member played a critical role in our success,” said Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, Boom Supersonic’s chief test pilot. “Our disciplined and methodical approach to the flight test program created a safety culture that made this first supersonic flight both safe and successful. With the lessons learned from XB-1, we can continue shaping the future of supersonic travel.”
During its first test flight on March 22, 2024—originally scheduled for 2021—the XB-1 reached a maximum speed of just 455 km/h. The most recent test flight took place earlier this year, on January 10, 2025, when Brandenburg achieved a top speed of 0.95 Mach and an altitude of 7,632 meters.
While the first successful supersonic flight marks an important milestone for Boom Supersonic, there is still much development and testing ahead to meet the company’s current goal—Overture’s first flight by 2030. As of May 2024, the company has raised over $700 million and “sold” 15 supersonic aircraft to United Airlines (with an option to purchase 35 more) and 20 to American Airlines.
Source: NewAtlas
