Supersonic Travel Without the Boom—How?

Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 aircraft has achieved a groundbreaking feat, breaking the sound barrier without creating an audible sonic boom on the ground.

At a Glance

  • XB-1 broke the sound barrier three times during its first supersonic flight without an audible boom
  • Boom Supersonic announced “Boomless Cruise” for its Overture supersonic airliner
  • The technology is based on Mach cutoff physics, where sonic booms refract in the atmosphere
  • Overture aims to reduce U.S. coast-to-coast flight times by up to 90 minutes
  • Boom expects passengers to be flying on Overture by the end of 2029

Revolutionizing Supersonic Travel

Boom Supersonic has made a significant leap in aviation technology with its XB-1 aircraft, demonstrating the ability to fly at supersonic speeds without generating a disruptive sonic boom on the ground. This breakthrough, achieved through a phenomenon known as “Mach cutoff,” could pave the way for a new era of commercial supersonic travel over land.

The XB-1, Boom’s technology demonstrator aircraft, broke the sound barrier three times during its inaugural supersonic flight, reaching a top speed of Mach 1.12. Specialized microphone arrays confirmed that no sonic booms reached the ground during the flight, validating the effectiveness of the Mach cutoff principle.

The Science Behind Boomless Cruise

The Boomless Cruise technology relies on the physics of Mach cutoff, where sonic booms are refracted in the atmosphere and do not reach the ground. This phenomenon allows aircraft to fly at supersonic speeds without causing disturbances to communities below.

“It’s actually well-known physics called Mach cutoff. When an aircraft breaks the sound barrier at a sufficiently high altitude, the boom refracts in the atmosphere and curls upward without reaching the ground. It makes a U-turn before anyone can hear it,” said Blake Scholl, Founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic.

The success of Boomless Cruise depends on precise atmospheric forecasts and careful flight planning. Bernd Liebhardt from the German Aerospace Center explains, “The actual challenge is getting very accurate atmospheric forecasts on temperature and on wind – computing the practical Mach-cutoff flight speed is pretty straightforward from there.”

Overture: The Future of Supersonic Commercial Travel

Building on the success of the XB-1, Boom Supersonic is developing the Overture airliner, designed to carry passengers at supersonic speeds. The Overture is planned to operate at Mach 0.94 over land and Mach 1.7 over water, potentially reducing coast-to-coast flight times in the United States by up to 90 minutes.

“This confirms what we’ve long believed: supersonic travel can be affordable, sustainable, and friendly to those onboard and on the ground. With this success, we’re bringing Boomless Cruise to Overture, unlocking faster travel on even more routes,” said Scholl.

The Overture has already garnered significant interest from the aviation industry, with 130 orders and pre-orders from major airlines including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines. Boom Supersonic has also completed construction on the Overture Superfactory in Greensboro, North Carolina, with the capacity to produce 66 aircraft annually.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite the promising developments, challenges remain for widespread adoption of supersonic travel. Current regulations prohibit supersonic flight over land in the United States, requiring special authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration for testing. Boom Supersonic hopes for regulatory changes as they continue to demonstrate the safety and quietness of their technology.

The company is also addressing environmental concerns by designing Overture to run on up to 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). With collaborations spanning both commercial and defense sectors, including a partnership with Northrop Grumman, Boom Supersonic is poised to transform high-speed travel norms.

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