Prototype 2,100 km/h supersonic passenger plane test flight

The US XB-1 prototype of the Overture supersonic passenger plane completed all test objectives, including reaching an altitude of 2,170 m and a speed of 440 km/h.

Prototype supersonic passenger plane 2,100 km/h test flight — XB-1 demonstrator aircraft takes off. Video : *Boom Supersonic*

Boom Supersonic, a US-based aviation startup, is developing a hypersonic aircraft, Overture, that will be able to travel significantly faster than today's large passenger planes and will be optimized to use 100% sustainable aviation fuel. Overture is expected to be able to carry 64-80 people at a speed of Mach 1.7 (about 2,100 km/h).

Boom Supersonic launched the XB-1 program to provide a foundation for the design and development of Overture. On March 22, the startup announced that the XB-1 demonstrator aircraft had successfully completed a test flight at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California. The XB-1 safely and smoothly completed all test objectives, including reaching an altitude of 7,000 feet and a top speed of 270 mph.

The XB-1 is powered by three General Electric J85 engines that can produce a maximum thrust of 54.7 kilonewtons (kN). The fuselage is 21.6 m long and is made of carbon fiber and titanium composites. The aircraft was mainly developed in Centennial, Colorado, but then moved to Mojave Air and Space Port in early 2023, where experts conducted thorough testing.

According to Boom Supersonic, the X1-B demonstrates advanced and essential technologies for supersonic flight. The aircraft has excellent runway visibility with two nose-mounted cameras that provide flight path and altitude information on high-resolution pilot displays. This technology improves aerodynamic efficiency without the need for a heavy and complex nose that can lift and lower.

Engineers also studied thousands of possible designs for the XB-1 using fluid dynamics simulations. As a result, the design was refined to combine efficiency at supersonic speeds with safety and stability during takeoff and landing. The XB-1 is largely made from carbon fiber composites, achieving advanced aerodynamics in a structure that is both strong and lightweight.

As the XB-1 demonstrator completes its first flight, Overture moves closer to production. The project has received 130 orders and pre-orders from major airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines.

Thu Thao (According to Interesting Engineering )

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