Boom’s XB-1 jet breaks the sound barrier for the first time<p>Boom, the startup developing a new generation of supersonic aircraft, has achieved a major milestone after its test plane broke the sound barrier for the first time. The <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/boom-unveils-xb-1-supersonic-demonstrator-172711578.html">XB-1 “Baby Boomâ
https://www.engadget.com/booms-xb-1-supersonic-jet-has-been-authorized-to-break-the-speed-of-sound-120036963.html">Bell X-1 Supersonic Corridor[/url] over the Mojave Desert. XB-1 reached a speed of Mach 1.1 at an altitude of 35,000 feet for a few minutes before running out of airspace authorized for supersonic travel. The plane would go on to break the sound barrier a total of three times before it returned to base. It’s the first time a civilian aircraft has broken the sound barrier while flying over the United States.</p>
<p><a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/boom-supersonic-xb-1-2021-130025910.html">Engadget covered Boom in an extensive profile back in 2020[/url], where the company was gearing up to unveil XB-1 and make preparations for test flights. Since then, it has been undergoing a barrage of tests, with a series of subsonic test flights starting from March 2024 through the end of the year. In the background, the company has been signing deals with major airlines including <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/united-airlines-boom-supersonic-194556757.html">United[/url] and <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/american-airlines-boom-overture-jet-purchase-191453014.html">American[/url], to supply passenger jets for civilian service. This craft, dubbed Overture, has a planned top speed of Mach 1.7 — equivalent of 1,305 miles per hour — which would cut existing travel times in half. At least, for the folks who could afford a ticket.</p>
<span id="end-legacy-contents"></span>This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/transportation/booms-xb-1-jet-breaks-the-sound-barrier-for-the-first-time-164930546.html?src=rssSource:
Boom’s XB-1 jet breaks the sound barrier for the first time
