A supersonic jet nicknamed the ‘Son of the Concorde’ has officially traveled faster than the speed of sound for the first time.
The XB-1 demonstrator aircraft took off from the Mojave Air & Space Port in California at 11:22am ET on Tuesday, soaring to 35,000 feet above the surface and hit 844 miles per hour – the speed of sound travels at 761 miles per hour.
The mission lasted for less than one hour, but saw XB-1 break the sound barrier two times during the flight.
Aviation startup, Boom, said XB-1 is paving the way for the full production model Overture that will take passengers from New York City to London in three hours and 30 minutes. It takes about eight hours on a traditional commercial plane.
Overture will stretch 199 feet and travel at more than twice the speed of sound, with a range of 5,180 miles.
Boom has received 130 pre-orders for Overture, with American Airlines, United Airlines and Japan Airlines securing fleets.
The flights from NYC to London flights are predicted to cost about $5,000 per customer, compared to Concorde’s old seats decades ago, which would amount to $20,000 adjusted for inflation today.
Boom is the first independent company ever to design, build and fly a supersonic aircraft, but the last craft to ever hit the speed since Concorde was retired in 2003.
The XB-1 demonstrator aircraft took off from the Mojave Air & Space Port in California at 11:22am ET on Tuesday, soaring to 35,000 feet above the surface and hit 843 miles per hour – the speed of sound travels at 761 miles per hour
The jet took off near the Edwards Air Force Base
The supersonic flight was piloted by former U.S. Navy aviator Tristan ‘Geppetto’ Brandenburg, the chief pilot who had conducted the previous 11 missions.
Brandenburg said Tuesday’s mission was the best she’s ever flown’ as he raised a glass with Boom’s found Blake Scholl who said: ‘to many booms to come’.
XB-1 hit a speed of Mach 1.1, surpassing the speed of sound that travels at Mach 1.
The jet measures 71 feet long with just one seat for the pilot. A Mirage F1, a French fighter and attack aircraft, was spotted trailing behind XB-1 to ensure the airspace remained clear for the mission.
The jet took off near the Edwards Air Force Base, which was where Chuck Yeager became the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound in 1947.
‘Today, XB-1 took flight in the same hallowed airspace where the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier in 1947,’ said Scholl.
‘I’ve been looking forward to this flight since founding Boom in 2014, and it marks the most significant milestone yet on our path to bring supersonic travel to passengers worldwide.’
But unlike Yeager, Boom’s XB-1 traveled faster than the speed of sound twice during the same flight.
XB-1’s previous record was Mach 0.95, or 728 miles per hour, which it hit during its last test flight on January 10.
Boom is the first independent company ever to design, build and fly a supersonic aircraft , but the last craft to ever hit the speed was the Concorde (pictured)
XB-1 hit a speed of Mach 1.1, surpassing the speed of sound that travels at Mach 1. The jet measures 71 feet long with just one seat for the pilot. The jet was accompanied by a Mirage F1 chase plane
The jet features high-resolution cameras in the nose to assist pilots with navigating through supersonic speeds, which the company said ‘provides superior runway visibility for landing.’
Boom’s Overture, however, is posed to reach Mach 1.7 as it carries up to 80 passengers over the Atlantic Ocean.
The company had previously said that it would finalize the design of Overture once the demonstrator breaks the sound barrier.
Overture’s initial roll out was set for 2025, but delays have pushed the launch to 2027.
‘Passengers and airlines are hungry for supersonic flight,’ said Scholl.
‘Following XB-1’s successful test flight, we’re accelerating. Overture features an all-new flight deck, incorporating extensive pilot feedback, resulting in a flying experience that is both innovative and instantly familiar.’
