Boom Supersonic's XB-1 prototype successfully broke the sound barrier for the first time during its twelfth flight, reaching Mach 1.1. The test flight, which lasted 34 minutes, marked a pivotal moment for civil aviation, being the first time a private aircraft surpassed the speed of sound since the retirement of the Concorde in 2003. The XB-1, a smaller prototype for the larger Overture airliner, is designed to carry passengers on supersonic international flights. While progress has been made, further development and testing remain to achieve full operational readiness for the Overture.
After taking off from the Mojave Air & Space Port in California, Boom's chief test pilot, Tristan Brandenburg, flew the XB-1 to an altitude of 34,000 feet before hitting a top speed of Mach 1.1.
This landmark flight is significant not just for Boom Supersonic but for civil aviation, marking the first time a civil aircraft has gone supersonic since the Concorde.
Collection
[
|
...
]