Published On: Tue, Jan 28th, 2025
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‘Son of Concorde’ 767mph supersonic jet set to blast off | World | News

Boom Supersonic share look at XB-1’s flight test

A supersonic jet dubbed the “Son of Concorde” is poised to make aviation history within hours as it embarks on its inaugural supersonic flight, breaking the sound barrier for the first time.

Built by Colorado-based Boom Technology, the XB-1 – capable of hitting Mach-1 – 767 mph – represents a significant step forward in the development of commercial supersonic travel – as well as representing something of a blast from the past.

If successful, it could pave the way for the first US-built commercial supersonic jet to enter the market, reigniting the dream of high-speed passenger travel that was first brought to life by the iconic Concorde, a joint UK-French enterprise in the 1970s.

The highly anticipated flight, scheduled for January 28 at 6:45 am PST/9:45 am EST/2:45 pm GMT from Mojave in California, will be livestreamed, with a T-38 chase plane capturing the historic moment the aircraft breaks the sound barrier.

While test flights are always subject to potential delays due to weather, excitement is steadily building as the XB-1 approaches this critical milestone.

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XB-1

The XB-1 is due to take off in hours (Image: Boom)

The jet has already demonstrated its capability by reaching “transonic” speeds of Mach 0.95 in two previous test flights. Tomorrow’s event will see it push past this threshold, officially classifying it as a supersonic aircraft.

In the cockpit will be chief test pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, who has led the XB-1’s earlier flights.

The jet will operate in two specially authorised airspaces near Edwards Air Force Base in Mojave, California: the Bell X-1 Supersonic Corridor and the Black Mountain Supersonic Corridor.

These are the same skies where aviation legend Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier in his Bell X-1 plane in 1947.

Tristan 'Geppetto' Brandenburg

Tristan ‘Geppetto’ Brandenburg will be at the controls (Image: Boom)

On the ground, the team will include Boom’s chief test flight engineer Nick Sheryka, advisor Greg Krauland, and Mike Bannister, the former chief Concorde pilot for British Airways. Bannister, who has clocked nearly 7,000 supersonic hours, remarked, “Even people who have flown supersonic hundreds of times never stop getting excited about it.”

The XB-1 is expected to maintain supersonic speeds for around four minutes during the flight, although the entire journey will last between 30 and 45 minutes.

Mr Brandenburg explained that civilians on the ground won’t hear the sonic boom, as the flight has been carefully planned to avoid populated areas.

He said: “A common misconception is that the pilot feels extreme G-forces at supersonic speeds.”

Concorde

Corcorde was taken out of service in 2003 (Image: Getty)

In fact, once the jet reaches a steady airspeed, he will only experience the usual force of gravity and mild acceleration.

Regardless, preparations have been rigorous. MrBrandenburg has completed multiple simulator sessions, practising various scenarios, including engine failure and emergency responses.

He said: “The simulator gives me our best prediction of how we expect the aircraft to behave in each new condition.”

The team also conducts full simulations with the control room to prepare for any unexpected situations, he stressed.

The XB-1’s flight represents a bold step toward the return of civilian supersonic travel, an ambition Boom Technology hopes to make accessible to more people.

As Bannister noted, only Concorde passengers and military jet pilots have experienced such speeds. With the “Son of Concorde,” Boom aims to expand that exclusive club and transform the future of aviation.

Concorde was retired from service in 2003, primarily due to a combination of economic and safety concerns. The aircraft had faced declining passenger numbers following the Air France Flight 4590 crash in 2000, in which 109 people were killed shortly after taking off from Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Additionally, rising maintenance costs and the high expense of operating the supersonic jet, including its substantial fuel consumption, made it increasingly unprofitable, especially in the wake of a downturn in air travel after the 9/11 attacks.

Concorde’s ageing design and the lack of a viable successor also contributed to its retirement, ending an era of supersonic passenger travel.