Boom XB-1 “Supersonic Airliner” to Exceed Mach 1

By Olawale Abaire, Warrior Editorial Fellow

The aviation industry is at a point of revolution, with the Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 test plane receiving the green light from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to exceed Mach 1 during test flights.

The XB-1, a sleek, delta-shaped aircraft, took its maiden flight on March 22, 2024, from the Mojave Air & Space Port. The XB-1 is a technology demonstrator designed to pave the way for Boom’s full-scale Mach 1.7 Overture airliner. The aircraft is configured with three afterburning General Electric J85-15s.

The XB-1, often referred to as the “Baby Boom”, is a one-third scale prototype of the Overture, Boom’s envisioned supersonic commercial airliner. The aircraft is constructed with composite materials of carbon fiber, advanced avionics, digitally optimized aerodynamics, and an advanced supersonic propulsion system.

The XB-1, with its fuselage made of carbon composite and titanium, boasts an ogive wing, a modified delta design, that ensures safe maneuvers during take-off, landing, and even at supersonic velocities. Its propulsion is provided by three J85 engines from General Electric, capable of generating a total maximum thrust of 12,300 pounds of force (lbf).

The FAA’s approval is a first-of-its-kind, allowing the XB-1 to break the sound barrier during its test flights. This is what the FAA has termed “a major federal action,”. Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, expressed his anticipation for the XB-1’s first supersonic endeavor, acknowledging the FAA’s crucial role in facilitating this technological advancement.

How the F-35 is becoming a fighter for free world