Supersonic commercial jet Overture
Supersonic air travel is about to change forever. A brand new supersonic jet is preparing for lift off. Denver based company Boom Supersonic has announced it will roll out XB-1, a 1:3 scale prototype of its upcoming supersonic commercial jet Overture. The purpose of XB-1 is to demonstrate and prove the ‘key technologies’ for Overture.
Mainstream supersonic flight
A team of engineers and technologists at Boom announced their supersonic jet is set for take-off and Boom’s sole purpose is to make our world more accessible. Their goal is to mainstream supersonic flight for as many people as possible in as many places as possible.
XB-1 is planned or roll out on 7th October 2020 and test flights will begin in 2021. The move will help to pave the way for the first commercial supersonic flights since the last flight in 2003. XB-1 is the first step in bringing supersonic travel back to the world. XB-1 moves at twice the speed meaning travel can be twice as far, and this will bring more people, places, and cultures together.
Results and design
The results of the XB-1 test program, which claims to be 100% carbon neutral, will allow Boom to fine tune the design for supersonic airliner Overture. Doom are ensuring that the supersonic future is safe and environmentally and economically sustainable.
‘… Mach 2.2 speeds.’
If all goes according to plan, Overture, which is designed to seat between 55 to 75 people, will begin passenger flights in 2030. It will focus on over 500 primarily transoceanic routes that will benefit from the aircraft’s Mach-2.2 speeds. The aircraft has been designed with the latest noise-reducing technologies and will only fly at supersonic speeds while over oceans to ensure that populated areas are not affected by sonic booms.
Inspired by Concorde
Although inspired by the Concorde, the XB-1 displays key technology differences that will enable the Overture to operate economically and sustainably targets. The aircraft’s slender, low-drag delta wing is designed for super cruise performance.
‘…predominantly made of lightweight carbon-composite materials…’
The XB-1 shares some Concorde-like features, a slender nose, elongated forward fuselage and a graceful delta wing. Unlike the Concorde, the wing is mounted on the upper fuselage and predominantly made of lightweight carbon-composite materials. The XB-1 is a critical step towards mainstream supersonic travel. It’s going to provide, and is providing, key technologies to help us move to safe, efficient and sustainable supersonic travel.
The Overture
The Overture will be the first new commercial aircraft to have been built with environmental and economic sustainability in mind. That includes everything from the engines being designed to accept a wide variety of alternative fuels through to looking at how to design the aircraft for recycling.
Supersonic air travel is about to change forever
Depending on affordability supersonic travel may make a huge return in aviation. Research suggests for those untroubled by speed, supersonic travel will definitely make a return to our skies. Suggestions indicate that if the cabins are comfortable enough, many would embrace the experience. Whatever happens, supersonic air travel is about to change forever.
