The Boom XB-1 broke the sound barrier one last time before being finally retired from active flight service. The supersonic test aircraft achieved new records in its final test flight on February 10. Speed and flight altitude.
The aircraft is now being stored while Boom Supersonic focuses on developing the Overture passenger aircraft.
The last supersonic flight
The XB-1 launched on the morning of February 10 from the Mojave Air & Space Port in California and spent a total of 41 minutes in the air. Test pilot Tristan Brandenburg broke the sound barrier three times and set a new top speed for the test aircraft at 671 knots (almost 1.250 km/h). At the same time, the aircraft reached an altitude of over 36.500 feet, or more than 11 kilometers.
Test objectives and new technologies
The last flight was not only for the speed measurement, but also further investigations. Engineers captured so-called Schlieren images, which visualize the airflow around the aircraft, and conducted acoustic measurements. A particular focus was on the so-called boomless cruise technology, which is intended to reduce the loud sonic boom.
Return to Denver
After the test flights are completed, the XB-1 will be returned to Boom Supersonic's headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The focus will now be entirely on the development of the Boom Overture—a commercial supersonic aircraft designed to resemble the Concorde.
Boom Overture: The Future of Supersonic Flight
The Overture will carry up to 80 passengers at Mach 1,7 over Water and Mach 1 over land. Launch is scheduled for the end of 2029. Boom Supersonic says it has already received 130 pre-orders for the aircraft, including from United Airlines and American Airlines.
"This is the last time it will fly," Boom CEO Blake Scholl explained during a webcast. "This is truly a bittersweet day for me and for the entire XB-1 team." You can find all further details about the project in the Video. Image and video credits/source: Supersonic boom | This content was created using AI and reviewed by an editor.
