Boom Supersonic's XB-1 Jet Achieves First Civilian Supersonic Flight in the U.S.

The milestone marks a significant step toward the return of commercial supersonic travel, with plans for the Overture airliner to launch by the end of the decade.

Boom Supersonic's XB-1 demonstrator jet broke the sound barrier on January 28, 2025, during a test flight over the Mojave Desert, reaching Mach 1.1 at 35,000 feet.
This marks the first U.S.-developed civil supersonic flight since the Concorde's retirement in 2003 and the first by an independent company globally.
The XB-1 serves as a prototype for Boom's planned Overture airliner, which aims to carry up to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7 on over 600 global routes by 2029.
Overture is designed to run on sustainable aviation fuel, with innovations like carbon-fiber composites and augmented reality systems for improved runway visibility.
Boom Supersonic's CEO emphasized the importance of U.S. innovation in aviation as competition grows from China's aerospace advancements.