Supersonic flights may soon become a reality as not one, but two such aircraft are about to be tested in the US. While Boom Supersonic is set to demonstrate its XB-1 supersonic aircraft, NASA is also preparing to test its X-59 plane.
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Boom Supersonic's XB-1 demonstrator aircraft is scheduled for a supersonic test flight on January 28 at 7:45 a.m. local time. The flight, taking place at the Mojave Air and Space Port, aims to break the sound barrier, reaching a speed of Mach 1.1 (approximately 844 mph or 1,358 kph). This milestone follows 11 successful test flights since March 2024, with the XB-1 previously reaching Mach 0.95.
This test flight is a critical step in developing Boom's Overture, a commercial supersonic airliner with over 130 orders and pre-orders from airlines including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines. The XB-1 serves as a precursor to the Overture, testing new technologies like an augmented reality vision system for improved pilot visibility.
The flight will occur in the same airspace where Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier in 1947. This attempt comes decades after the last Concorde supersonic flight in 2003. Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl anticipates supersonic planes eventually replacing conventional airliners. «I very much believe in the return of