Supersonic Jet Moves to Mojave Air and Space Port Ahead of First Flight

Aviation startup Boom Technology's XB-1 demonstrator jet has moved to the Mojave Air and Space Port in California, where it is undergoing extensive ground testing ahead of its first flight.

The 71-foot-long (22 meters) carbon-composite jet is designed to fly at Mach 2.2 — 2.2 times the speed of sound, or around 1,700 mph (2,700 kph). The first flight will occur over the Mojave desert in the same patch of airspace where, in October 1947, Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1 experimental aircraft.

The XB-1 also recently received an experimental airworthiness certificate from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after a detailed aircraft inspection.

Boom CEO Blake Scholl said the recent progress made toward XB-1's first flight reflects the team's collective efforts to build and safely fly the world's first independently developed supersonic jet.

"It’s fitting that XB-1 is now progressing toward first flight at the Mojave Air and Space Port, home to more than 50 first flights and other significant aviation events," Scholl said. "I’m looking forward to flying XB-1 here, building on the achievements of other talented engineers and pilots who inspire us every day to make supersonic travel mainstream."

The XB-1 represents a milestone in the development of Boom's planned commercial airliner, called Overture, which Scholl said could soon make supersonic flight mainstream.

Provided all goes well with XB-1 testing, Boom aims to roll out the Overture craft in 2026, with the first flight of the aircraft planned for no sooner than 2027. Overture will be a successor to the last commercial supersonic aircraft, the Concorde, which operated between 1969 and 2003.

The 201-foot-long (61 m) long Overture will be capable of reaching a cruising speed of Mach 1.7, traveling over land 20% faster than current commercial aircraft and over water twice as fast as today's fastest airliners. Overture will be capable of carrying between 64 and 80 passengers and will operate on 100% sustainable aviation fuel, Boom says.

According to the company, when operational, the plane should be able to travel between New York and Rome in just 4 hours and 45 minutes, a journey that currently takes around 8 hours, and between San Francisco and Seoul in just over 8 hours, instead of just over 12 hours.

The development of the XB-1 and Overture is a major step forward for the future of supersonic flight. If successful, these aircraft could revolutionize the way we travel, making it possible to travel long distances much faster than ever before.