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Boom XB-1 completes first supersonic flight

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  • Boom Aerospace’s XB-1 broke the sound barrier for the first time
  • Top speed achieved was Mach 1.122
  • Flight covered 524 km and lasted 35 minutes

Boom Aerospace’s XB-1 became the first civilian aircraft since Concorde to break the sound barrier on 28 January, with the demonstrator aircraft achieving a top speed of Mach 1.122. 

XB-1 lifted off from Mojave Air and Space Port (MHV | KMHV) at 16:20 UTC (08:20 local time) and climbed to 35,000 feet before accelerating past the sound barrier over the California desert in the same corridor in which the Bell X-1 first achieved supersonic flight.

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Boom XB-1’s second supersonic flight...

Boom Aerospace is conducting the second and final supersonic flight with its XB-1 demonstrator aircraft. Two weeks ago, XB-1 became the first civilian aircraft to break the sound barrier since Concorde.

The aircraft touched down in Mojave at 16:55 UTC (10:55 local time) after a 35 minute flight. 

Boom is preparing for a second supersonic test flight of XB-1 as early as next week. The XB-1 is a small scale demonstrator aircraft for Boom’s supersonic vision of passenger flight. The company aims to launch its full-sized Overture jet for entry into service by the end of this decade. The timeline for any such service is highly dependent on the progress Boom makes with its demonstrator and the development of components for the Overture—most importantly the engines.

You can track all of the XB-1’s test flights on Flightradar24 and replay past test flights with our playback feature.

What do you think of Boom’s quest to revive supersonic passenger flights? Let us know in the comments below.

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22 Responses

  1. I was tracking whilst watching the live Stream. Super cool! Great to be able to do that so easily on flight radar!!

  2. After so many years of Concord being out of service, it’s about time the world had a supersonic aircraft.
    Looking forward to flying on BOOM!
    Can’t wait!!!

  3. Any report of the acoustic output when it crossed the sound barrier?

  4. ….but, was the sonic boom any quieter?
    I mean, isn’t that goal of this very expensive experiment ?
    Breaking the sound barrier is hardly a new feat.
    Flying without a visible windshield view isn’t new.

    Also, if it has a chase jet flying with it, doesn’t that negate any effective
    measurement of the sonic boom sounds ?

    This article leaves a LOT of question un-addressed or answered.
    Please, dig a little deeper…..

  5. Fantastic, coming from Bristol the home of Concorde it is crazy that air travel is slower than it was 20 years ago. Looking forward to travelling on BOOM !!

  6. So no one’s reporting if this flight created sonic booms or not – the whole point of the project!

  7. I can’t see what the great excitement is over a normal jet. This is not the future passenger Boom that there will be and is merely a normal jet without passenger space.

  8. If built will the plane not be restricted to just transatlantic flights as was Concorde?

    1. I do believe Nasa is working on the X-59, which is supposed to reduce the sound of the sonic boom. I think Boom should integrate something like this.

  9. Nothing will ever beat the majesty and ‘wow’ factor of Concorde. I still don’t understand why such an iconic widely loved aircraft was not salvaged for flying heritage displays.

  10. So what’s the point? You’ve spent how much money on an aircraft that looks like it will hold fewer people that a G650? You’ve done something done over 75 years ago again? Foolish.

  11. I am really excited to see what Boom and the Overture will have to offer. Would love to go on it one day! Anybody else notice that the flight path kinda looks like a racecar?

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