Imagine being able to fly from New York City to London in just 3 and half hours instead of a grueling 8 hour slog. Or San Francisco to Tokyo in 5 hours rather than 11. Such flight times could enable feasible same-day business trips across oceans, transforming aviation.
This long-elusive dream defined commercial aviation’s brief supersonic era of the 1970s. But concerns over sonic boom noise, emissions, and operating costs drove iconic planes like the Concorde out of service by the early 2000s. Flying faster than sound proved an engineering challenge too expensive for mainstream adoption.
Yet two decades after the last commercial supersonic flight, a Colorado startup aims to prove the concept’s viability once and for all. Boom Supersonic, founded in 2014, has lined up critical industry partners and regulatory engagement to certify advanced aircraft using new engine efficiencies and noise reduction techniques.
Boom’s flagship Overture jet aims to fly 65-80 passengers at twice the speed of today’s quickest commercial jets – over 1300 mph. This is over 500 mph faster than the now-retired Concorde.
If realized as planned, Overture could fly routes like New York to Paris in as little as 3 and a half hours for a premium fare.
But does Boom’s 2029 entry-into-service timeline sync with the practical realities of certifying and building these notoriously complex vehicles? What tradeoffs emerge between ultra-fast flight and factors like ticket cost, fuel efficiency and noise?
Read on for an insider’s guide to supersonic’s tantalizing rebirth, the physics powering next-gen jets, and Boom’s progress towards reviving commercial travel faster than sound.
The First Supersonic Era – Concorde’s Brief, Turbulent Flight
Humanity crossed the supersonic threshold just 75 years ago in level flight, as Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier in 1947. The notion of commercial airliners eventually cruising that fast captivated aerospace dreamers. But severe obstacles remained around managing noise, emissions, heat and efficiency at such speeds.
After early prototypes in the 1960s, aircraft manufacturer Aérospatiale finally delivered the Concorde to airlines in 1976 alongside British collaborators. This narrow fuselage jet could traverse the Atlantic in under 3 hours while cruising at Mach 2 (1500 mph). For comparison, standard commercial jets fly between 500-575 mph.
The needle-nosed Concorde became a cultural icon and flashy symbol of innovation. Passenger rosters represented a who’s who of celebrities, CEOs and political leaders. But inside the aviation industry, deeper issues emerged around viable operations.
Concorde struggled with profitability as elevated ticket prices proved a narrow market. And powerful sonic booms produced when breaking the sound barrier hampered routing options. Especially over land, boom noise brought heavy restrictions. Concorde never served the dense US domestic market as a result.
By the late 1990s, rising maintenance costs on aging aircraft added turbulence. And a fatal 2000 crash combined with environmental criticisms around noise and emissions tarnished reputation. Passenger service ceased permanently in 2003.
Supersonic flight’s first brief foray thus proved an ultimate financial failure, even as Concorde exemplified aerospace ambition. But what if the core design challenges around noise, emissions and operating costs could be solved? That tantalizing question has driven innovators to keep chasing faster flight.
Boom Aims To Prove Viability with Overture Airliner
Profile Info
CEO: Blake Scholl
President: Kathy Savitt
Founded: 2014
Headquarters: Denver, CO
Employees: 150+
Funding: $270M+
Enter Boom Supersonic. Founded in 2014 by CEO Blake Scholl, this Denver startup originated from technology incubator Y Combinator. Boom has now raised over $270 million in pursuit of economically sustainable faster-than-sound air travel. Backers include Japan Airlines, American Express Ventures and Emerson Collective, evidencing commercial aerospace credibility.
"Overture fares will be similar to today’s business class—widening horizons for tens of millions more flyers," said Scholl.
Boom Promotional Video: Overture Rollout
With over 150 current employees including leading aerospace engineers, Boom envisions the Overture airliner as launching supersonic into the mainstream. Carrying 65-80 passengers at Mach 1.7 with improved efficiency, Boom says existing premium travelers will justify ticket costs similar to today’s business class fares. If operational costs align with fares high enough to turn profit but still drive demand, viability follows.
That’s a massive if, but the progress is promising. Boom has completed wind tunnel and other concept testing, including a demonstrator XB-1 jet. They aim to break ground on a manufacturing facility in 2024 and start test flights in 2026. The timeline targets carrying the first public passengers on Overture by 2029.
The key milestones to watch involve Boom‘s promise around pioneering engines and airframe materials delivering dramatic gains in fuel efficiency while also reducing noise. If Overture fulfills design goals, it may tame the sonic boom driving past failed attempts. Partners like United Airlines (with purchase options if spec requirements are met) signal Boom is taking the right steps.
But make no mistake, the road from here to certified passenger service remains filled with pitfalls that could cause delays. If wind tunnel data doesn’t match actual performance, redesign would set the program back years. Still, Boom has come farther than peers also chasing this dream. The next few years of engine and materials testing will prove pivotal.
The Physics of Supersonic Speed – and Its Price
What allows the latest generation of aircraft designs to push the boundaries of speed further than predecessors? Let’s unpack the physics and cost/benefit tradeoffs.
First, breaking the sound barrier and achieving supersonic cruising speed requires immensely powerful and efficient propulsion. Jet turbines must accelerate past Mach 1 airspeeds (760 mph at sea level) without bleeding energy. Air resistance rises exponentially. Overture plans for four wing-mounted engines that can sustain high speeds.
Secondly, lightweight airframe materials deflect the immense heat generated. Roughly 90% of air friction converts to warmth at these velocities. Custom alloys, composites and advanced coatings allow managing the thermal load.
Finally, the aircraft’s aerodynamic shape must slice through density shockwaves created when punching the sound barrier. This mitigates drag, noise and instability. Refined shaping via simulation visualizes airflow, pressure and stress dynamics.
[OEM Simulation Image]
There’s no free lunch to speed. Fuel consumption for civil supersonic engines remains multiple factors higher than traditional jets. But new ceramic matrix composites and complex inlet/exhaust contours help improve thrust efficiency.
Physics dictate faster flight will always burn more fuel. Yet Boom believes the latest technical leaps makes supersonic commercially viable where predecessors fell short. If verified in testing, travelers may deem 3-4X hourly fuel consumption an acceptable price for slashing absolute travel times. 2023 test results can’t come soon enough.
Overture By the Numbers – Specs and Projected Flight Times
How much faster could Overture traverse key global routes compared to modern jets? What tradeoffs emerge between cutting flight duration and other factors? Let’s crunch the numbers using available specifications.
Aircraft Specifications
| Specification | Overture (Expected) | Concorde (Mach 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Cruising Speed | Mach 1.7 | Mach 2 |
| Wingspan | 105 feet | 84 feet |
| Length | 205 feet | 202 feet |
| Height | 56 feet | 40 feet |
| Max Takeoff Weight | 174,000 lb | 408,000 lb |
| Passenger Capacity | 65-88 | 92-120 |
| Range | 4,250 nmi | 4,500 nmi |
| Ceiling Altitude | 60,000 feet | 60,000 feet |
*Data compiled from public specifications
On cruising speed, Overture lags the legendary Concorde by Mach 0.3 – still over 500 mph faster than standard jets. It actually surpasses Concorde on fuel efficiency and passenger miles per gallon. Range also competes well at slightly lower capacity.
There‘s no precise fuel burn specifications from Boom yet. But they claim operating costs will hit $6,000 per hour – on par with existing business class pricing structures. That suggests optimism around achieving over 3X current engine efficiency to offset ~3X speed velocity. Independent assessments remain pending.
So what does this mean for flight durations in the real world? Here‘s estimated flight times across some notable global routes:
Projected Flight Durations
| Route | Normal Jet | Overture | Time Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYC to London | ~8 hours | ~3.5 hours | 4.5 hours |
| San Francisco to Tokyo | ~11 hours | ~5 hours | 6 hours |
| Sydney to Singapore | ~8 hours | ~3.5 hours | 4.5 hours |
| NYC to Paris | ~7.5 hours | 3.5 hours | 4 hours |
These slices in travel time illustrate the dramatic change supersonic brings. Imagine London day trips from NYC no longer seeming crazy. Architects could readily jet between buildings in NYC and Paris or Shanghai and LA.
There’s still a price tag to pay – Boom wants a fare premium akin tocurrent business class tickets, which run 2-4X economy pricing. Yet the sheer time saving for busy executives and lesser overall days spent traveling confer massive value.
The Road Ahead – Milestones and Pitfalls on the Path to 2029 Debut
All signs point to Boom making progress on their decade-long quest to revive supersonic travel. From drawing board to completed wind tunnel models and seven-figure orders, each milestone lends further credence.
But – and it’s a massive but – the gap remains wide between simulations, small scale models and full size functioning prototypes. Transitioning from computer modeling to physical manufacturing introduces myriad chances of setback. Just ask Boeing after battery failures grounded the 787 Dreamliner for months.
By the numbers, here‘s a rough timeline of key targets Boom has set:
Overture Development Timeline
- 2022: XB-1 Rolls Out – Engine Tests
- 2023: XB-1 Test Flights
- 2024: Select Manufacturing Partner
- 2025: Overture Production Design Frozen
- 2026: Construction Begins
- 2027: Low-Speed Overture Testing
- 2028: Supersonic Testing Begins
- 2029: Airline Passenger Service
Delays of mere months can readily cascade into years in the meticulous world of aerospace. Safety remains paramount, meaning stations can‘t be skipped. Noise or emissions outside targets could force engineering rework.
Yet even if 2029 proves optimistic by a few years, realization by 2030 or 2031 would still culminate an aviation achievement for the ages. Other upstarts chase the same dream but lag even farther back.
The waiting proves difficult with such a profound advancement on the horizon. But Concorde slipped past target dates for years as well. With inaugural XB-1 tests imminent, the next 12 months should validate if Boom‘s masterplan remains intact.
Stay tuned for updates as supersonic steps back into the spotlight. The sound preceding Overture‘s arrival just might echo into a breakthrough future for global mobility.
