Boom Supersonic to roll out XB-1 demonstrator at virtual event Oct. 7

Boom Supersonic (Denver, Colo., U.S.) the aerospace company building the world’s fastest airliner, announced on July 8 that its supersonic demonstrator, XB-1, will roll out on Oct. 7, 2020. In keeping with CDC-recommended physical distancing measures, the entire event will be available online and allow attendees an opportunity to submit questions to company leadership.

 XB-1 is the world’s first independently developed supersonic jet and, according to Boom Supersonic, will demonstrate key technologies for Overture, Boom’s commercial airliner, such as carbon fiber composite construction, computer-optimized high-efficiency aerodynamics and an efficient supersonic propulsion system. The company acknowledges XB-1 as the end product of years of development effort, including multiple wind tunnel tests, dozens of structural tests, hundreds of simulation iterations and tens of thousands of work hours.

“Our experiences in the COVID-19 pandemic underscore for all of us the fundamental human need for personal connection. Faster travel enables us to experience the world’s people, cultures and places, and XB-1 is the first step in bringing supersonic back to the world,” says Blake Scholl, Boom founder and CEO. “With XB-1, we’re demonstrating that we are prepared to bring back supersonic. We’re ensuring that the supersonic future is safe and environmentally and economically sustainable. We’ve learned that the demand for supersonic has grown even faster than we anticipated.”

To design and build XB-1, Boom has recruited a team of experts from around the industry to establish supplier relationships, and build a strong safety culture. XB-1 is the first aircraft program to announce a 100% carbon-neutral flight test program. The company’s innovations include what is said to be one of the highest-efficiency civil supersonic intakes ever tested, demonstrating Boom’s ability to deliver a breakthrough in propulsive efficiency for Overture. XB-1 will begin its test program later this year and is slated for first flight in 2021.

According to Boom, its commercial aircraft, Overture, will be the fastest and most sustainable supersonic airliner, flying twice as fast as any commercial airplane today, enabling Boom to bring families, businesses, and cultures closer together through supersonic travel and thus, make the world more accessible.

The company is hosting a virtual rollout event to give the world a first look at the completed aircraft and hear from the team that designed, built and will test the aircraft. The lead engineers, test pilots and company leadership will explore the technical and design innovations, the flight and handling criteria and how the demonstrator positions the company to build its flagship, Overture.