Hey there aerospace enthusiast! Have you heard of Boom Supersonic? They aim to make flying faster than the speed of sound a practical, mainstream option once again through advanced aircraft designs and sustainability innovations.
This comprehensive guide will bring you up to speed on:
- Boom Supersonic‘s founders and history – The background that motivated their supersonic dreams
- The aircraft making it possible – XB-1 and Overture specs, capabilities and technologies explained
- Major partnerships and contracts – With airlines, manufacturers and military
- Efforts to enhance sustainability – Given previous supersonic flights‘ environmental impact
- Market viability and adoption challenges – Making high-speed travel economically feasible
- Testing and manufacturing plans – Ensuring timely, quality production
Let‘s get started! I‘ll walk you through each part of the Boom Supersonic puzzle…
The Spark of Inspiration – Founders & History
Boom Supersonic was founded in 2014 by Blake Scholl alongside King Technology founder Joe Wilding and Cincinnati entrepreneur Ramya Krishnan.
Scholl first gained interest in aviation as a software engineer observing Cessnas at local Ohio airports. He went on to earn his private pilot license in 2008 and instrument aircraft rating in 2011 while working at Amazon and Groupon.
The spark for Boom Supersonic came as Scholl contemplated passion projects that were ambitious but not impossible. He longed to strengthen connections between his young children and aging grandfather in Hong Kong. But 30-hour flights were too arduous to visit frequently.
Scholl assembled a team of 300+ aerospace veterans who helped NASA put a man on the moon and develop aircraft like the F-35. With their expertise, he aimed to fundamentally upgrade intercontinental travel times through a revival of efficient supersonic flight.
Major Funding Rounds
- 2014 – Founded in Denver home with $33K self-funding
- 2017 – $33 million Series A round
- 2019 – $100 million Series B round
- 2021 – $270 million+ in private funding to date
Boom‘s Breakthrough Supersonic Aircraft Designs
Boom engineers crafted two complementary aircraft – one for testing and design validation, the other for passenger service. Let‘s compare their capabilities side-by-side:
| Specification | XB-1 Demonstrator | Overture Airliner |
|---|---|---|
| First Flight | 2022 | 2026* |
| Length | 71 ft / 21.6 m | 285 ft / 88 m |
| Wingspan | 22 ft / 6.7 m | 141 ft / 43 m |
| Seating | n/a | 65-80 passengers |
| Maximum Speed | Mach 2.2 | Mach 1.7 |
| Range | n/a | 4,250 nm |
| Engines | 3 non-afterburning J85-15 | 4 new medium-bypass turbofans |
| Materials | Carbon-fiber composite | Lightweight alloys + composites |
** Forecast
Dubbed "Baby Boom," the XB-1 is a 1⁄3 size scaled demonstration vehicle for validating simulations and designs through real-world testing. Meanwhile, the Overture airliner aims for economical, mainstream service carrying passengers halfway around Earth in just a few hours!
Now let‘s dig deeper into each aircraft:
XB-1 Demonstrator
Unveiled in 2020, the nimble XB-1 is vital for gathering performance data across the entire flight envelope. For example, it tests:
- New thermodynamic cycle engines from General Electric not relying on noisy afterburners
- Advanced carbon fiber composites keeping weight down
- Computer modeling comparing wind tunnel results with actual flight
- Software refinements – over 26 million simulation hours!
Upcoming test milestones include reaching Mach 2.2 speeds, plus validating handling qualities and stability while maneuvering. As XB-1 Chief Engineer Mike Jagemann says:
“XB-1 is the key step in the development of history’s first independently developed supersonic jet…”
Lessons learned shape the passenger-carrying production Overture.
Overture Airliner
Overture is Boom‘s Mach 1.7 commercial airliner, expected to carry its first passengers in 2029 following a 2026 rollout. Boeing and Airbus vet Joe Wilding leads the aircraft program.
It‘s optimized for speed, comfort, and sustainability using innovative configurations like 4 extended wings. Overture‘s economic cruise and 2,500 nautical mile range unlock more than 500 potential supersonic routes.
Chief Engineer Dr. Ganesh Rajagopalan predicts Overture enabling:
"…environmentally responsible transit times roughly halved compared to today’s fastest commercial aircraft."
Now let‘s look at partnerships transforming Boom‘s ambitions into reality…
Strategic Agreements Fueling Progress
Boom collaborates with leading aviation players across engines, systems, manufacturing and airlines. Support from these experts provides cash, research access, and ultimately – customers.
Airline Commitments
In 2017 Japan Airlines invested $10 million to study supersonic travel demand and refine passenger needs for speed.
The floodgates truly opened in 2021 when United Airlines agreed to purchase 15 Overture aircraft potentially worth $3 billion, followed by American Airlines ordering up to 60 planes.
For the airlines, agreements give exclusive access to aircraft optimizing valuable transoceanic business routes. As United CEO Scott Kirby notes:
“United continues on its trajectory to build a more innovative, sustainable airline and today’s advancements in technology are making it more viable…”
For Boom, deep-pocketed launch customers provide early funding, operational feedback, and essential flight testing collaboration.
Overture Manufacturing Partners
Bringing together complex, customized systems from partners like:
- Rolls Royce – Customized medium-bypass engines
- Collins Aerospace – Flight deck, training, etc
- Safran – Major fuselage & nacelle assemblies
- GE Additive – 3D printed parts for mass optimization
Leveraging manufacturing allies lets Boom focus top engineering talent on aircraft innovation while benefiting from world-class production infrastructure.
Pushing the Boundaries of Speed AND Sustainability
Unlike the ozone-harming, noisy first-generation Concorde, Boom declares Overture will be net-zero carbon from the first flights, running on 100% sustainable fuels. How so?
Boom‘s chief scientist Dr. Kevin Noertker explains:
"Through better engine technology, carbon-neutral sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and responsibility carbon offsets, I believe Overture can be the first commercial airliner to fly net-zero…"
Let‘s examine the key technologies making this possible:
Ultra-Efficient Engines
- Over 30% more efficient than Concorde‘s engines
- Designed for renewable fuels from inception
- Generate power through the full flight envelope without wasteful afterburners
- Passively cool, reducing weight and drag
Smart Design Reduces Noise
- Swept wings for smoothing airflow
- Engines mounted above wings to lessen ground noise
- Takeoffs/landings at slow enough speeds to meet noise regulations
Eco-Friendly Route Planning
- Only accelerates to supersonic 1,000+ km from shorelines
- Pre-cleared transoceanic custom corridors to prevent sonic booms from affecting communities
Commitment to Carbon Neutrality
- Any emissions directly offset through renewable credits
- Supporting growth of SAF fuels as member of SAF Consortium
There‘s no denying supersonic flight consumes more total energy than conventional planes. But Boom‘s multifaceted sustainability initiatives provide a roadmap for minimizing Overture‘s operational impact.
The Manufacturing Plan
In 2022 Boom revealed plans for the Overture Superfactory – a state of the art production campus custom-made for supersonic manufacturing. The details:
- $500+ million campus location selected at North Carolina‘s Piedmont Triad International Airport
- 62 acre campus footprint when complete
- Phased build-out to ramp production:
- 2023-2024: Factory foundations & site prep
- 2025: Production equipment installation
- 2026: Begin parts manufacturing & subassembly
- 2027: Full assembly line rollout & production ramp
- 2029: Support scaling for airline entry into service
Boom CEO Blake Scholl explains the factory significance:
“For the first time since Concorde, Boom is now assemble complete supersonic aircraft…”
On-site Boom will handle major fabrication, system integration, final assembly and flight testing.
The Road Ahead – Challenges & Unknowns
Make no mistake – Boom Supersonic faces immense trials translating sleek computer renderings into certified passenger aircraft taking off and landing routinely at global hub airports.
Here are the major hurdles ahead:
Passenger Comfort – New engine intakes must minimize cabin noise and vibration at Mach 1.7 – no easy feat!
Regulatory Approval – Securing safety certifications and ensuring compliance across global jurisdictions
Production Scaling – Manufacturing dozens of airframes flawlessly and profitably
Traveler Adoption – Proving consumer willingness to pay supersonic premiums
However, Boom‘s executives would argue "If it were easy, someone would‘ve already done it!"
Few believed SpaceX would ever vertically land orbital rockets. Yet they now make it look routine through ambition and engineering prowess. Perhaps supersonic‘s time too has finally come again thanks to enabling technologies.
Are you excited yet? By persevering through long nights and inevitable setbacks, Boom Supersonic aims to fully realize sustainable Mach flight‘s promise once more.
I hope this guide got you fully up to speed on their inspiring quest! Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments.
