Supersonic demonstrator aircraft readying for first flight
NewsNovember 13, 2023
DENVER, Colo. Boom Supersonic -- the company building a supersonic airliner -- is readying its XB-1 demonstrator aircraft for first flight sometime before the end of 2023, according to a company announcement.
The announcement detailed Boom's notching of key milestones toward XB-1's first flight, which remains on track for late in 2023 at California's Mojave Air & Space Port.
The XB-1 received its experimental airworthiness certificate from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Augist 2023 and has continued to complete a number of integrated tests prior to first flight, including ground vibration mode testing, fuel system integrated testing, engine operability testing, and medium-speed taxi testing up to 90 knots (103.5 mph). Following its Flight Readiness Review (FRR) in early November 2023, XB-1 is conducting high-speed taxi testing in final preparation for its first flight.
Boom Supersonic is using the one-third scale XB-1 demonstrator to demonstrate the technology it will use when building the Overture, a supersonic jet like the now-retired Concorde.
