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Boom XB-1
The Boom XB-1 "Baby Boom" is a retired trijet supersonic demonstrator designed by Boom Technology as part of the development of the Boom Overture supersonic transport airliner. Powered by three General Electric J85 engines, it was initially designed to maintain a speed of Mach 2.2, with over 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km; 1,200 mi) of range; but the demonstrator was tested to only Mach 1.1 and no long–range flights were made. The XB-1 began taxi tests in December 2022, and conducted its maiden flight on March 22, 2024. The aircraft performed its first supersonic flight test on January 28, 2025, being the first privately developed jet aircraft to do so. It made a second supersonic flight on February 10, 2025, after which the XB-1 was retired.
The original design was unveiled at Centennial Airport in Dove Valley, near Denver, Colorado, on November 15, 2016, and it was initially intended to make its first subsonic flight in late 2017, powered by General Electric CJ610 turbojet engines, with subsequent supersonic flight test planned elsewhere.
By April 2017, sufficient financing had been secured to build and fly it. Its preliminary design review was completed by June 2017, with a switch of engine to the GE J85 to take advantage of its extra thrust. It was then stated that flight tests would start in late 2018. In 2017, the composite wing spar was load tested while being heated in a hydraulic testbed at 300 °F (150 °C), above the heat soak operational temperature. First expected supersonic flight slipped to 2019.
By July 2018, the aerodynamic design was completed, the horizontal tail assembled, and the engines received. The Spaceship Co., manufacturer of Virgin Galactic's vehicles, was announced as a partner for flight tests in Mojave, California.[needs update] Flight tests were delayed again to 2019 due to challenging aerodynamics and further engine change; from the 3,500 lbf (16 kN) J85-21 to the 4,300 lbf (19 kN) J85-15.
The XB-1 design went through three sets of wind tunnel tests. The first indicated that the predicted calibration was off by 30%. The second set of tests confirmed accurate calibration and a third set of tests confirmed design safety. The tunnel testing finished in November 2018, including takeoff and landing with gear doors' impact on stability as well as supersonic inlet testing. These tests had taken a decade on Concorde. The carbon-fiber layup of the fuselage halves was to begin in early 2019 for final assembly of the forward fuselage at the beginning of Spring. With total investment rising to $200 million, Boom was funded for XB-1 flight-testing to the end of 2020. At the June 2019 Paris Air Show, Blake Scholl announced the date for first flight was pushed out to 2020, which would have been three years later than previously planned, after including a stability augmentation system for better safety at high speed and at take-off and landing.
In February 2020, with the completion of Boom's second simulator, tests began on XB-1 flight controls and system integration. Static wing loading tests were carried out in March 2020, and the wings were mated to the fuselage in April with the aft fuselage nearing completion in May.[better source needed] Engines and landing gear were installed by September 2020.
On October 7, 2020, Boom Supersonic rolled out the XB-1 in a promotional, with an announcement that the maiden flight was now expected in 2021. By early 2021, it was stated that flight tests were expected no earlier than September 2022. On July 26, 2021, Boom began testing and evaluating a forward-looking vision system (FLVS) as part of preparations for flight tests of the XB-1.
In January 2022, Boom began conducting engine run-ups using the XB-1 in preparation for taxi tests and the first flight later in 2022. In May 2022, fixed-position ground testing was completed, with engine run-up done on all three engines. Undercarriage and flight systems were tested and deemed ready. Taxi runs, and actual flight runs were expected in late 2022.[citation needed] Further delays as of February 2023[update][why?] pushed the expected first flight to mid-2023.
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Boom XB-1
The Boom XB-1 "Baby Boom" is a retired trijet supersonic demonstrator designed by Boom Technology as part of the development of the Boom Overture supersonic transport airliner. Powered by three General Electric J85 engines, it was initially designed to maintain a speed of Mach 2.2, with over 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km; 1,200 mi) of range; but the demonstrator was tested to only Mach 1.1 and no long–range flights were made. The XB-1 began taxi tests in December 2022, and conducted its maiden flight on March 22, 2024. The aircraft performed its first supersonic flight test on January 28, 2025, being the first privately developed jet aircraft to do so. It made a second supersonic flight on February 10, 2025, after which the XB-1 was retired.
The original design was unveiled at Centennial Airport in Dove Valley, near Denver, Colorado, on November 15, 2016, and it was initially intended to make its first subsonic flight in late 2017, powered by General Electric CJ610 turbojet engines, with subsequent supersonic flight test planned elsewhere.
By April 2017, sufficient financing had been secured to build and fly it. Its preliminary design review was completed by June 2017, with a switch of engine to the GE J85 to take advantage of its extra thrust. It was then stated that flight tests would start in late 2018. In 2017, the composite wing spar was load tested while being heated in a hydraulic testbed at 300 °F (150 °C), above the heat soak operational temperature. First expected supersonic flight slipped to 2019.
By July 2018, the aerodynamic design was completed, the horizontal tail assembled, and the engines received. The Spaceship Co., manufacturer of Virgin Galactic's vehicles, was announced as a partner for flight tests in Mojave, California.[needs update] Flight tests were delayed again to 2019 due to challenging aerodynamics and further engine change; from the 3,500 lbf (16 kN) J85-21 to the 4,300 lbf (19 kN) J85-15.
The XB-1 design went through three sets of wind tunnel tests. The first indicated that the predicted calibration was off by 30%. The second set of tests confirmed accurate calibration and a third set of tests confirmed design safety. The tunnel testing finished in November 2018, including takeoff and landing with gear doors' impact on stability as well as supersonic inlet testing. These tests had taken a decade on Concorde. The carbon-fiber layup of the fuselage halves was to begin in early 2019 for final assembly of the forward fuselage at the beginning of Spring. With total investment rising to $200 million, Boom was funded for XB-1 flight-testing to the end of 2020. At the June 2019 Paris Air Show, Blake Scholl announced the date for first flight was pushed out to 2020, which would have been three years later than previously planned, after including a stability augmentation system for better safety at high speed and at take-off and landing.
In February 2020, with the completion of Boom's second simulator, tests began on XB-1 flight controls and system integration. Static wing loading tests were carried out in March 2020, and the wings were mated to the fuselage in April with the aft fuselage nearing completion in May.[better source needed] Engines and landing gear were installed by September 2020.
On October 7, 2020, Boom Supersonic rolled out the XB-1 in a promotional, with an announcement that the maiden flight was now expected in 2021. By early 2021, it was stated that flight tests were expected no earlier than September 2022. On July 26, 2021, Boom began testing and evaluating a forward-looking vision system (FLVS) as part of preparations for flight tests of the XB-1.
In January 2022, Boom began conducting engine run-ups using the XB-1 in preparation for taxi tests and the first flight later in 2022. In May 2022, fixed-position ground testing was completed, with engine run-up done on all three engines. Undercarriage and flight systems were tested and deemed ready. Taxi runs, and actual flight runs were expected in late 2022.[citation needed] Further delays as of February 2023[update][why?] pushed the expected first flight to mid-2023.