Boom Supersonic is a company working on creating a supersonic commercial airliner called the Overture. They have been making significant progress in recent years and have announced several partnerships and developments that showcase their progress and commitment to supersonic travel in the future.
Starting 2022
In January of 2022, Boom entered into a three-year strategic partnership with the U.S. Air Force through its innovation arm, AFWERX, and its AFVentures division, which is designed to accelerate commercial technologies. Known as the Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI), the STRATFI contract awarded to Boom is one of the program’s largest investments and a significant commitment to the future of supersonic aviation.
In the following months, Boom announced that they selected the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, as the site of its new manufacturing facility, the Overture Superfactory. Boom will produce and assemble Overture at this state-of-the-art plant in 2024.
Boom also launched a multi-year partnership with American Express to give American Express Card Members first-hand access to immersive aviation experiences that showcase Overture.
Boom also made efforts toward the environment in 2021 when it released its 2021 Environmental Sustainability Report. This report outlines the company’s path toward a sustainable future in travel. Showing the company’s holistic approach to environmental responsibility and commitment to a scalable and sustainable future for travel, defined by two key pillars: climate and community.
Boom announced a 10-year agreement with Climeworks, a leader in carbon dioxide removal through direct air capture (DAC). As part of this agreement, Climeworks will remove[1] some of Boom’s residual CO₂ emissions from the atmosphere and permanently store it underground.
Finally, XB-1, one of Boom’s prototype aircraft, completed a ground vibration test, a unique test that ensures the aircraft will avoid flutter. This dangerous aeroelastic phenomenon can occur in aircraft when structural behavior becomes intertwined with aerodynamics, leading to significant amplitude vibrations.
Overall, it seems that Boom is making significant progress toward the commercial supersonic flight goal. The company has announced several key partnerships, developments, and environmentally friendly measures to make this goal more attainable.
The Goal of Travelling the World with Speed, Ease, and Grace.
For example, a standard flight from New York to London on a commercial airliner would take around 7-8 hours, while a supersonic flight on the Concorde, which was retired in 2003, took around 3.5 hours. A planned future supersonic airliner, such as Boom’s Overture, projected the flight time to be less than 3 hours.
The speed of a supersonic flight is typically around 1,500 – 2,000 miles per hour, much faster than the typical commercial flight speed of around 550 – 600 miles per hour. Supersonic flights can cover much greater distances in less time, making them ideal for long-haul travel.
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- American Airlines Agrees To Buy 20 Supersonic Jets From Boom – Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2022/08/17/american-airlines-agrees-to-buy-20-supersonic-jets-from-boom/
