Boom is a Denver-Colorado-based startup founded in 2014 that seeks to build what it calls the world’s fastest supersonic airliner as more companies seek to revive supersonic commercial flight nearly 20 years after the grounding of the Concorde, history’s only successful supersonic airliner.

What is Boom building?

Boom is currently developing its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator and Overture, a 65-88 passenger, Mach 1.7 supersonic airliner. (Concorde boasted a cruise speed above Mach 2.)

The XB-1 shares key technologies with Overture, such as advanced carbon fiber composites and a refined delta wing. Boom will use lessons learned from XB-1 flight testing to help optimize Overture and to prove that in-flight key technologies are safe for efficient travel at supersonic speeds.

The XB-1 was formally revealed to the public in October 2020.

When will you be able to fly in the Overture?

Overture, with an estimated $200 million price tag (plus options and interior)—and a cruising altitude of 60,000 feet—is slated to roll out in 2025, fly in 2026, and carry passengers by 2029, according to Boom.

While the company says final ticket prices will be set by airlines, Overture is being designed “to allow airlines to offer fares comparable to today’s business class. Our long-term vision is that the fastest flight is also the most affordable,” according to its website. 

Boom’s founder, Blake Scholl, told The New York Times that the goal is to deliver passengers anywhere in the world within four hours for $100. In comparison, tickets from New York to London aboard Concorde cost thousands of dollars.

Can Boom fly supersonic in the U.S.?

Like the iconic Concorde, the supersonic Overture will only exceed the speed of sound during overwater routes such as New York to London and San Francisco to Tokyo. Decades ago, the FAA banned supersonic flight over the continental U.S. because of the effects that sonic booms can generate.

In January, the FAA announced final rules for supersonic test flights in the U.S. meant to streamline the approval process, which is a key step in ultimately getting a product to market. 

While the FAA still prohibits unlimited supersonic flight over U.S. soil, it does provide exemptions for testing, which is good news for Boom. 

Who are Boom’s supporters?

In June, United Airlines became the first U.S. airline to sign a commercial agreement with Boom, announcing it plans to buy 15 of the supersonic airliners, contingent on Boom hitting certain milestones. 

Japan Airlines has also pitched in $10 million for the development of the airliner and with an option to purchase 20.

Boom is also working with the United States Air Force for government applications of Overture. 

Its partners include Collins Aerospace, which is collaborating on the nacelle technology development; Rolls-Royce, which is developing a custom propulsion system; and Amazon Web Services for high-powered computer cloud storage and security.

So far, the company has raised $270 million as of May; its investors include American Express, Bessemer Ventures, Prime Movers Lab, Emerson Collective, and Celesta Capital.

The post Curious About Boom Supersonic? Here Are Five Things to Know appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Leaders from across the business aviation community came together this week at the National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas, Nevada—and went away pledging to an industry-wide commitment to net-zero carbon by 2050.

Ed Bolen, president and CEO of NBAA, Pete Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, joined International Business Aviation Council director general Kurt Edwards in building on the 2009 Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change goals, which included:

• Reducing carbon emissions 50 percent by 2050,
• Increasing fuel efficiency 2 percent per year from 2010 to 2020
• Achieving carbon-neutral growth by 2020.

The updated goal? To drive toward net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The groups also plan to sustain the fuel efficiency increases by 2 percent each year from 2020 to 2030.

“I’m incredibly proud to say that the industry is on track to meet or exceed those goals,” Bolen said at a media breakfast launching the first full day of the convention. “This is a testament to the value of a unified partnership among operators, manufacturers, fuelers, service providers and many others.

“With our collective focus and determination, we can achieve carbon-neutrality in our lifetimes.”

Bunce looks to advancing technology to help support achieving those goals.

“As higher blends of SAF [Sustainable Aviation Fuel] become approved for production, we will be able to further optimize fuel efficiency through technological advancements to achieve our environmental goals,” Bunce said. “Our industry also has a proven track record of capitalizing upon innovations in the air traffic control infrastructure to further reduce emissions.

“Additionally, dramatic improvements in avionics and data communications capabilities will increase operational contributions to reducing emissions,” Bunce continued. “When merged with the exciting new designs employing electric distributed propulsion, hydrogen and SAF hybrid aircraft, we are confident innovation will keep us marching toward our net-zero goals.”

Edwards concurred. “SAF and initiatives like carbon-offsets will continue to be a key piece of the puzzle in carbon-emissions reduction.”

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