Boom Supersonic's XB-1 aircraft successfully flew at supersonic speeds without producing an audible sonic boom on the ground, marking a major milestone in the development of commercial supersonic travel. This advancement utilizes the physics of Mach cutoff to bend sonic booms upwards, preventing them from reaching the ground.
Boom Supersonic, a company pioneering the development of passenger aircraft capable of exceeding the speed of sound, has made a groundbreaking announcement: its planes will be able to fly at supersonic speeds without generating an audible sonic boom on the ground below. This remarkable feat was achieved during a test flight of the company's XB-1 aircraft late last month.
Boom Supersonic confirmed the news in a press release on Monday, stating, 'During its historic first supersonic flight on January 28, 2025, Boom’s demonstrator aircraft, XB-1, broke the sound barrier three times without generating a sonic boom that reached the ground, demonstrating that quiet supersonic travel is possible.' Specialized microphone arrays strategically positioned along the flight path confirmed that sonic booms did not reach the ground as the XB-1 reached a top speed of Mach 1.12.Blake Scholl, the founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, explained that this advancement in supersonic flight is made possible by a phenomenon known as 'Mach cutoff.' In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Scholl elaborated, 'It's actually well-known physics called Mach cutoff. When an aircraft breaks the sound barrier at a sufficiently high altitude, the boom refracts in the atmosphere and curls upward without reaching the ground. It makes a U-turn before anyone can hear it.' Scholl further elucidated the science behind Mach cutoff, stating that sound waves, like light rays, bend as they pass through mediums with varying speeds of sound. Since the speed of sound changes with temperature, and temperature varies with altitude, sonic booms can bend upwards at higher altitudes.Scholl emphasized that this technology requires advancements beyond what was available during the era of the Concorde supersonic jet. He suggested that Mach cutoff could be effectively utilized for speeds up to Mach 1.3, but pointed out that at higher speeds, the sonic boom geometry would prevent it from being avoided. While supersonic flight over land is currently prohibited in the United States, Scholl expressed hope that this regulation would change. He believes that the president could issue an executive order allowing for supersonic flight over land as long as it doesn't generate an audible sonic boom.Although the public will have to wait a while longer, Boom Supersonic is actively working on developing its Overture passenger aircraft. The company plans to begin construction of the first Overture aircraft at its North Carolina factory in approximately 18 months, with the target date for the first aircraft to be completed in about three years. Boom Supersonic aims to have Overture available for passenger flights by the end of 2029. With an already impressive order book of 130 aircraft, including commitments from major airlines like American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines, the future of supersonic travel appears bright. Boom Supersonic is also collaborating with Northrop Grumman on government and defense applications of the Overture aircraft
SUPERSONIC FLIGHT BOOM SUPERSONIC XB-1 MACH CUTOFF OVERTURE SONIC BOOM FAA COMMERCIAL AVIATION
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