VIVAERO

Boom Supersonic aircraft completes second flight

Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 demonstrator aircraft has completed its second flight at the Mojave Air & Space Port in California.

Following its historic first flight in March 2024, XB-1 continues to progress through its flight test programme, targeting supersonic flight by the end of the year. The XB-1 programme provides the foundation for the design and development of Overture, Boom’s supersonic airliner, while establishing a safety-first culture.

During this flight, XB-1’s landing gear was successfully retracted and extended for the first time, which is typical of second test flights. Additional objectives for this flight test were for the XB-1 team to assess aircraft handling qualities and activate a new digital stability augmentation system – or roll damper – for the first time. This roll damper was implemented to improve handling qualities based on learnings from first flight.

In addition, tufting was applied to XB-1’s right wing to observe and evaluate the direction and strength of airflow across the wing, verifying its aerodynamic characteristics. XB-1 flew for approximately 15 minutes, reaching an altitude of 10,400 feet and speeds of 232 knots.

“XB-1 had a fantastic second flight this morning. Initial results indicate we’ve successfully resolved the findings from Flight One and are excited to continue flight testing on the path to supersonic flight,” said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic. “I’m proud of the team. Today’s flight is another step toward the return of supersonic passenger travel.”

This was the first flight in XB-1 for Boom chief test pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, who flew the T-38 chase plane for XB-1’s inaugural flight. Brandenburg is the pilot who will be at the controls for the remainder of the test programme, including when XB-1 has its first supersonic flight.

Now that XB-1 has successfully completed its first two flights, the team will begin to systematically expand the flight envelope to confirm its performance and handling qualities through and beyond Mach 1. This includes in-flight checks of all systems, as well as multiple test points demonstrating safe margin to flutter (or aeroelastic vibration) boundaries. The sequencing of test flights will increase through this next phase of testing with approximately 10 flights planned before reaching supersonic speeds.

Just weeks after XB-1’s inaugural flight, Boom secured the first-ever Special Flight Authorization (SFA) to exceed Mach 1 from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). XB-1 test flights will continue to be conducted in the R-2508 Complex and supersonic operations will occur in the Black Mountain Supersonic Corridor and in a portion of the Bell X-1 Supersonic Corridor within the R-2515 airspace, which has been used extensively for research and military supersonic aeronautical operations. 

XB-1 provides the foundation for the design and development of Overture, Boom’s supersonic airliner. XB-1 leverages state-of-the-art technologies to enable efficient supersonic flight including digitally optimised aerodynamics, carbon fibre composites, advanced supersonic engine intakes, and an augmented reality vision system for take-off and landing visibility. 

Two decades after Concorde’s retirement, the first flights of XB-1 mark the return of a civil supersonic aircraft to the skies and pave the way for the revival of mainstream supersonic travel onboard Overture.

www.boomsupersonic.com