Boom’s one-third-scale prototype supersonic jet finally takes off
The private startup Boom has finally flown its third-scale prototype supersonic jet, dubbed XB-1, on its first short flight, taking off on March 22, 2024 from the flight test facility in Mojave, California.
Following behind was Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg in a T-38 chase plane to observe the flight and confirm altitude and speed. With a length of 62.6 feet (19 m) and a wingspan of 21 ft (6 m) , the XB-1 achieved an altitude of 7,120 ft (2,170 m) and speeds up to 238 knots (273 mph, 440 km/h) under the force of its three GE J85-15 engines generating a maximum thrust of 12,300 lbs.
According to Boom, once its aerodynamic characteristics and flight worthiness are confirmed, the XB-1 will increase speed until it is flying on later tests in excess of Mach 1.
This prototype supersonic test plane was first unveiled in 2020, four years ago, but runway taxi tests did not begin until 2023. I suspect the Wuhan panic contributed to the three year delay between unveiling and first tests, though this is speculation.
The goal is to build the first commercial superonic passenger plane since the Concorde. At present Boom has a contract from United for fifteen Boom 12-passenger planes, plus development deals with Boeing, and Japan Airlines.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
The private startup Boom has finally flown its third-scale prototype supersonic jet, dubbed XB-1, on its first short flight, taking off on March 22, 2024 from the flight test facility in Mojave, California.
Following behind was Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg in a T-38 chase plane to observe the flight and confirm altitude and speed. With a length of 62.6 feet (19 m) and a wingspan of 21 ft (6 m) , the XB-1 achieved an altitude of 7,120 ft (2,170 m) and speeds up to 238 knots (273 mph, 440 km/h) under the force of its three GE J85-15 engines generating a maximum thrust of 12,300 lbs.
According to Boom, once its aerodynamic characteristics and flight worthiness are confirmed, the XB-1 will increase speed until it is flying on later tests in excess of Mach 1.
This prototype supersonic test plane was first unveiled in 2020, four years ago, but runway taxi tests did not begin until 2023. I suspect the Wuhan panic contributed to the three year delay between unveiling and first tests, though this is speculation.
The goal is to build the first commercial superonic passenger plane since the Concorde. At present Boom has a contract from United for fifteen Boom 12-passenger planes, plus development deals with Boeing, and Japan Airlines.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Is it me or do all experimental supersonic test planes usually have a canopy that wobbles back and forth as you are getting into it on its maiden flight?
Other than that, probably minor issue, if it is an issue, looks great.
Just a guess, but the full-scale prototype and production vehicles probably won’t have openable canopies, so the current canopy design is a throwaway that does not represent the first step to a production item. Sort of reminds me of the canopy on the 15-meter sailplane I used to have. Rock solid when latched down, but with a rather flimsy hinge at the back, designed to tear away in the slipstream if it had to be opened in flight.
My partner and I invested in a very expensive thin-pack parachute and harness that made aerobatics comfortable, but we informally agreed there was no point in using it – the other partner would kill you if you ever did use it and survived!
A canopy is a piece of very floppy plastic fitted into a very thin metal frame. When it’s open, it’s secured to the airplane by only one or two hinges. Open, it has to be strong enough to handle wind gusts, bumps from personnel, and airflow at taxi speeds, but it’s not really structurally strong until it’s mechanically locked down in its (sometimes inflatable) rubber gasket. And it gets really really strong when the cockpit is pressurized above ~10,000 feet.
Thanks for the real-world clarification.
The video was a bit short on detail. Anyone know if the experimental prototype has an ejection seat?
Ray van Dune, I don’t know where you flew sailplanes but if it was anywhere near southern California in the late 1980’s you’d have seen my name in quite a few instrument panels.
Bob,
I think Boom, 62 ft, is 1/3 the size of the 201 ft future Overture.
Dennis: I had the text at 1/3 scale, but then changed it when I read the news reports that said half scale. Go figure.
It would be nice if Boom gave a few details of how their plane is not going to go boom, as in sonic boom, at least not as much. Their whole path to profitability is the ability to fly supersonic over land. If they’re restricted to Mach > 1 only over the ocean, they will join the Concorde as a very cool money loser. Reducing sonic boom on the ground is the whole point of the X-59. Is Boom incorporating any of that design?
As has been pointed out by others on this very Forum, this company really needs to find a new name. I would hesitate to invest in a company that sounds like an explosion.