Boom Supersonic makes history, breaks sound barrier
On January 28, 2025, the Boom Supersonic XB-1 test aircraft achieved a record speed of Mach 1.13 during a flight over the Mojave Desert in California. This achievement makes it the first civilian aircraft to break the sound barrier. Thousands observed the flight.
Just 12 minutes of flight was enough for the XB-1 Boom Supersonic pilot to exceed the speed of Mach 1.13 for the first time. During the 30-minute flight, the pilot reached a similar speed twice. This achievement brings us closer to a new era of faster and more efficient air travel, continuing the legacy of the Concorde (which flew at Mach 2) in a modern version.
XB-1 Boom Supersonic flew over 1200 km per hour
To break the sound barrier, the pilot climbed to an altitude of 35,000 feet (over 6 miles). At this altitude, the speed of sound is around 660 mph (due to lower air temperature), so the record-breaking Mach 1.13, which the XB-1 Boom Supersonic pilot flew at, is an astounding 750 mph. This is the first instance of a privately developed civilian jet achieving supersonic speed, marking a significant step toward the return of supersonic commercial travel after the legendary Concorde was retired in 2003. Boom Supersonic has invested over ten years of work to achieve this milestone, which, as it turns out, was worth the effort.
The new-generation supersonic aircraft was piloted by Tristian Brandenburg "Geppetto". Thousands watched the real-time supersonic test flight of the XB-1, thanks to a YouTube broadcast. Commentators noted that this pilot has vast experience in similar flights and has spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours in the air. In the live coverage comments, comparisons were made between today's XB-1 Boom Supersonic pilot's feat and the supersonic flights depicted by Tom Cruise in the movie "Top Gun: Maverick".
XB-1 is just the beginning of dreams for commercial supersonic air travel. It is a prototype that will support the design of the Overture aircraft, which is intended to become an ecological alternative to the Concorde.
Boom Supersonic Overture is a planned passenger aircraft intended to carry between 64 and 80 passengers and fly at a cruising speed of about Mach 2, effectively cutting travel time on select routes in half. Its design is in the early stages of development. The company plans to introduce the Overture for commercial use by 2029. Following recent successes, some airlines, including United, American, and Japan Airlines, have shown interest in the company's plans and are in discussions to acquire such aircraft for their own fleets.
