XB-1 Rattles the Mojave: Boom’s Supersonic Flight Leaves Cactus Plants Shaken and Pilots Cheering

A mighty roar echoed through the Mojave Desert on January 28, 2025, when Boom’s XB-1 demonstrator jet shattered the sound barrier. Locals might have spilled their morning coffee as the jet soared to Mach 1.122 (about 750 mph) at 35,290 feet, and there’s a good chance a few desert tortoises are still wondering what just happened.

Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg called the flight “a highlight of my career.” He guided XB-1 through historic airspace once used by Chuck Yeager, who broke the sound barrier in 1947. Aviation experts say XB-1’s achievement raises the bar because it’s the first civil supersonic jet built in America by an independent team rather than a government-led program.

Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl looked thrilled as he explained that XB-1 proves the potential for future passenger flights at supersonic speeds. He believes this marks just the beginning. Overture, Boom’s planned airliner, promises to fly at Mach 1.7 and carry 64 to 80 passengers, and Scholl says he wants anyone with a passport (and a taste for speed) to enjoy the benefits of supersonic travel.

XB-1 features carbon fiber composites, digital aerodynamics, and an augmented reality vision system to help pilots see the runway. Those high-tech touches sound fancy, but the real showstopper is the plane’s ability to cruise faster than your average desert dust storm. Boom tested it with 11 flights under different conditions to ensure safety and reliability. Brandenburg credits this “careful, step-by-step approach” for XB-1’s success.

Former British Airways Concorde pilot Mike Bannister can’t wait to book a seat. He calls XB-1’s flight “a major landmark,” adding that Boom’s Overture is his “#1 choice” to follow in Concorde’s legendary footsteps. Mike probably has a travel bag waiting by the door for the day he can once again zoom across the sky faster than the Earth can spin below.

Honeywell Aerospace Technologies also joined the celebration. CEO Jim Currier says he’s proud that Honeywell’s integrated flight deck will make flying safer and less stressful for Boom’s future pilots. Meanwhile, the National Aeronautic Association praised XB-1 for giving a modern twist to historic achievements and pushing the boundaries of what humans can do in the air.

Boom expects big things from its new Overture Superfactory in Greensboro, North Carolina. Plans call for producing as many as 66 Overture jets per year. Major airlines—American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines—already lined up with 130 orders and pre-orders. Scholl wants to power these planes with sustainable aviation fuel so everyone can feel good about leaving slower flights in the dust.

XB-1’s sonic boom might have startled a few desert creatures, but it also kicked open the door to the next era of air travel. You can almost hear supersonic fans everywhere asking, “Are we there yet?” Boom believes we’re close—so don’t blink. At these speeds, you might miss the future of aviation racing right past you.

Source: Boom