When I last flew Concorde in 2003 I knew that this day would come.
The first flight of the XB-1 supersonic demonstrator is a significant achievement toward making sustainable supersonic flight a reality.
Besides that, the planes earsplitting sonic booms meant the aircraft could only go supersonic over the open ocean.
The demonstrator aircraft on the ground.Photo:Boom Supersonic
Cities issued noise complaints about the aircraft, and today commercial air travel is entirely subsonic.
The Boom XB-1 is not the only supersonic demonstrator hitting the skies in 2024.
NASAs X-59 (also known asthe Quesst mission) is expected to make its first flight sometime this year.
An artist’s mock-up of the Overture airliner in flight.Illustration:Boom Supersonic
TheFederal Aviation Administration does not allowcivil aircraft to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 1 over land.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
Here’s how you’ve got the option to watch live.
