The XB-1 flew for around 15 minutes and reached an altitude of 10,400ft in California before safely landing
Georgie English – The Sun Aug 28, 2024
A PLANE hoping to fly faster than the speed of sound has hit a key milestone in its quest towards the return of supersonic passenger travel.
Dubbed the “Son of Concorde”, the aircraft is expected to eventually go from London to New York in just 3.5 hours while carrying 80 passengers onboard.
Boom’s XB-1 supersonic aircraft has taken a step closer to achieving its ultimate goal of becoming a commercial plane after it underwent its second successful test flight this week.
On Monday, the plane flew over the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California with developers closely watching on.
The XB-1 flew for around 15 minutes and reached an altitude of 10,400ft.
It reached a top speed of 232 knots (277 mph).
It follows the first flight which took place in March 2024.
Aviation experts in California say the progression from the first test day are clear to see.
Artists impression of the finished Overture plane in flight. Click to enlarge
The landing gear was successfully retracted and extended for the first ever time.
Researchers also got to assess the handling capabilities as well as activating a state-of-the-art digital stability augmentation system.
Also known as a roll damper, it was a welcomed addition from the first flight where handling was a key concern.
Routine checks were also done with engineers checking on the plane’s ability to handle strong airflow across the wings and to help shape the aerodynamic features further.
The XB-1 plane is being used for the test flights before Boom unveils the actual aircraft set to be used in the future known as the Overture.
Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic said: “XB-1 had a fantastic second flight this morning.
“Initial results indicate we’ve successfully resolved the findings from Flight One and are excited to continue flight testing on the path to supersonic flight.
“I’m proud of the team. Today’s flight is another step toward the return of supersonic passenger travel.”
Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg was in the cockpit for the first time and is now set to keep his seat until he manages to achieve the very first supersonic flight.
Another 10 tests are planned before the team can reach past Mach 1 and achieve supersonic status.
These tests will help to prove the feasibility of fuel consumption, speeds and flight characteristics.
In-flight checks of all systems will also be carried out to ensure a safe margin to flutter/vibration boundaries.
When the Overture is finally ready to takeoff, Boom hope it will be able to carry 80 passengers at a time all while offering “business class” levels of comfort.
Boom says the plane will be capable of flying from New York to London in 3.5 hours and Tokyo to Seattle in just 4.5 hours.
Overture is expected to fly at Mach 1.7.
If all goes according to schedule the first flight is expected to be available in 2030.
It is tipped to rival Concorde, a legendary aircraft that was introduced 51 years ago and retired in 2003.
The historic aircraft had a maximum cruising speed of 2,179km per hour, or Mac04 – twice the speed of sound.
Nasa has also been working on a supersonic jet, dubbed the X-59, which is said to have a reduced sonic profile.
What an ugly thing. And an ugly design. A typical example of building back better. And that means, things will even get worse.
last night
LONDON STABBING MAN IN WHEELCHAIR
Clapton murder: Wheelchair user stabbed to death in east London street as family pay tribute to ‘cheerful and caring character ‘Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man who used a wheelchair was stabbed to death in east London.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were called at 3.38pm on Wednesday to reports of a fight in Rushmore Road, Clapton, and found Jade Anthony Barnett, 38, with a stab injury. He was treated by London Ambulance Service paramedics but was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two males, aged 28 and 21, have been arrested and a crime scene is in place, the Met said. The pair, who have also been held for failing to stop for police, remain in custody at an east London police station.
London black gang leader Wayne Dobbs said in a phone call to the south london advertiser that “there was no need for the stabbing, he should have handed over his wallet when asked ”
Mr Barnett has been described as “cheerful and caring” by his sister, who said “he never took nothing too seriously, he laughed everything off”. He was treated by London Ambulance Service paramedics but was pronounced dead at the scene.
Eh, wasn’t this done by the English and French almost 60 years ago now??? And wasn’t the Concorde hindered by the yanks banging on about “sound barrier” noise???
Next thing you know the yanks will tell us that NASA is going to go to the Moon 🙂
Britain and France were White countries when Concorde was built, and the 1970s may have gone forever. The new aircraft sounds very not-impressive
they will prob fly to the moon in it…just as they never did before
Ordinary Americans will be subsidising rich people flying on this thing. Before Britain stopped flying the Concord the tickets cost £3,000 each after taxpayers subsidised the ticket price, which would be £8,000 before subsidy. When I watched that documentary 15-20 years ago I was on unemployment benefit at the time, and that £5,000 per ticket subsidy which went to rich travellers was more than Unemployment benefit paid in a year. And they call the unemployed the bums?
On the flight which featured in the documentary flying to New York was Boy George and Sting. Sting said he takes Concord because he can get from London to New York quicker on Concord than he can get from London to Newcastle on the train. Imagine the subsidy the Americans will have to pay per ticket on this new supersonic jet if it ever sees commercial service. Got to be talking $10K per, I would think.
Nice intercontinental hopper .. passenger transit cannot even pay for the r&d costs ..
Top 3 greatest passenger jets of all time. (Concorde / 747 / A-320)
“Super cruise” in 1970s using turbo jet engines.
Mach 2 @ 60,000 feet from Paris to NYC is no small feat.
My brother flew Concorde from Paris to NYC in 1988.
Ticket was $5K. A gift from his friend Dionne Warwick.
looking back to the last Concord disaster and in
view to coming Orwells WEF + NWO limiting flight
in future and last heinous intended remotecontroled
downs by state terrorists we should abstain from this .
EVERYBODY ON HIS OWN RISK !
let fighter pilots enjoy it !
Well, at least someone is making an effort to come up with an innovation during these woeful times..
I wonder how ‘diverse’ this Boom company is…:|
Yes these Yankees were always jealous of our Concorde, with it’s lovely long nose crafted as a homage to the swizzlers that run Pirate Rock… you could look down it like a real English Aristocrat…
Of course doom was baked into the patisserie by going all European Dis union and pairing up with our old enemy across the chunnel…who were responsible for a vehicle called the Citroen..which is Gallic for Lemon…and representative of a culture that wouldn’t know a Jensen Healey from an Interceptor…or their arse from their elbow…
And then of course the Yankees blew up old Concorde 20 years ago on the runway, no doubt because it was well beyond their comprehension and made them feel inferior having no culture of their own to speak of…probably with some of the explosives they had left over from blowing up their Twin Towers.. and some of their bankers..
For Benny Nuttyahood…and Larry Silvershteen…back at HQ…still they’ve got this little plane here, which is probably marginally better than a Turbo Commander.
…if a bit slower.. and 70 years too late…
anything of any worth in US is of European origin…
the Prodigal Son returning to its European cultural origin
Titanic, Hindenburg, and Concorde. Disasters befell all of them.
Sabotage (some ritualistic sacrifice?) or hubris?
Chesterton–Joe Vialls thought the USA destroyed the Concordes because Europe hurt some Boeings in the WTC and Pentagon attack, four for four, but then, Vialls was daft, (but I believed him at the time)
Thus, the surface of the earth at the equator moves at a speed of 460 meters per second–or roughly 1,000 miles per hour.all this bird has to do is get airborne and wait for its destination to spin by, underneath, then land.
@ Liar
Don’t confuse the Helio Humpers with logic.
Markie–people who subscribe to the heliocentric model have logic and you only have juvenile insults
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During the later periods of Roman history, sun worship gained in importance and ultimately led to what has been called a “solar monotheism.” Nearly all the gods of the period were possessed of solar qualities, and both Christ and Mithra acquired the traits of solar deities. The feast of Sol Invictus (Unconquered Sun) on December 25 was celebrated with great joy, and eventually this date was taken over by the Christians as Christmas, the birthday of Christ.
Heliocentrism is a tenet of solar worship ,if you worship the sun,then the sun is the center of your universe.these teachings were forced upon the olden europeans by the roman katholiks,through indoctrination,deception and inquisition.
halo, in art, radiant circle or disk surrounding the head of a holy person, a representation of spiritual character through the symbolism of light. In Hellenistic and Roman art the sun-god Helios and Roman emperors often appear with a crown of rays. Because of its pagan origin, the form was avoided in Early Christian art, but a simple circular nimbus was adopted by Christian emperors for their official portraits. From the middle of the 4th century, Christ was also shown with this imperial attribute, as was his symbol, the Lamb of God, from the end of the 4th century. In the 5th century it was sometimes given to angels, but it was not until the 6th century that the halo became customary for the Virgin Mary and other saints. For a period during the 5th century, living persons of eminence were depicted with a square nimbus.
Lewis , Lewis , Lewis. you continue to ignore numerous empirical proofs of FE and then accuse others of what you are guilty of.