Boom Supersonic has successfully completed the second test flight of its XB-1 demonstrator aircraft at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California on August 26, 2024
The flight, led by Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, focused on critical evaluations of the aircraft’s systems. This included testing the retraction and extension of the landing gear, as well as assessing a digital stability augmentation system known as a roll damper to enhance in-flight stability. Additionally, tufting, a technique used to visualize airflow, was applied to the right wing to ensure aerodynamic performance.
“Successful completion of XB-1’s second flight is yet another milestone in a year that has moved Boom closer than ever to delivering supersonic flight to the world,” said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic. “I am proud of the team for their work to address refinements to XB-1 following its first flight, and we continue to target breaking the sound barrier by the end of this year.”
The XB-1 took to the skies for the first time on March 22, 2024, safely achieving an altitude of 7,120 feet (2,100 meters) and speeds up to 238 knots (273 mph).
The XB-1 serves as a demonstrator for Boom’s upcoming Overture airliner. The supersonic passenger jet is poised to seat between 64 and 80 passengers and fly up to 4,250 nautical miles (7,867 kilometers) at a cruising speed of Mach 1.7.
The production of the Supersonic Transport (SST) aircraft is set to begin at the Overture Superfactory in Greensboro, North Carolina, by the end of 2024.
