Boom Supersonic's XB-1 Completes Historic Test Flight, Breaking Sound Barrier

The successful flight marks a major step toward the company's goal of reviving commercial supersonic travel with its future Overture airliner.

Boom Supersonic's XB-1 prototype reached Mach 1.12 during a test flight over California's Mojave Desert, becoming the first U.S. civilian jet to break the sound barrier.
The XB-1 is a scaled-down version of the planned Overture airliner, which aims to carry 64-80 passengers at speeds of Mach 1.7, cutting transatlantic travel times in half.
Boom has secured pre-orders for 130 Overture jets from airlines including American, United, and Japan Airlines, though most commitments remain non-binding or optional.
The Overture is designed to address challenges that plagued the Concorde, such as high costs, noise pollution, and environmental concerns, with plans to use sustainable aviation fuel and quieter engines.
Despite the milestone, significant technical, regulatory, and financial hurdles remain, and the company has yet to build the Overture, which it hopes to launch commercially within five years.