Denver-based startup Boom Technologies unveiled the design of supersonic passenger jet that will usher the supersonic transportation aft...
Denver-based startup Boom Technologies unveiled the design of supersonic passenger jet that will usher the supersonic transportation after the of Anglo-French Concorde retired in 2003.
The aircraft will be capable of carrying 45 passengers in premium class, at a speed of 2.2 Mach (1,451 MPH) or 2.6 times the speed of a typical passenger jet.
The XB-1 will save 3 hours and 45 minutes of flight time from the present 7 hour flight time between New York to London. With a ten percent faster speed, the XB-1 will only cost a quarter the fare charged for the Concorde.
Like the Concorde, the XB-1 will have a delta wing which is ideal for supersonic flights. The trijet is powered by three afterburner equipped medium by-pass jet engines capable of supercruising.
The three engine configuration will help reduce noise and improve aircraft safety, allowing easier FAA certification. The triple redundancy will ease ETOPS rules and enable more direct flights.
Boom claims the first prototype will be ready for first flight in 2017.
The aircraft is estimated to cost $ 200 million each, with interior and options to cost extra.
Engineering development of first prototype XB-1 ("Baby Boom") is proceeding rapidly, with aerodynamics defined, systems ground tested, and initial structural components in fabrication.
Made using carbon fibre to resist the high heat developed during supersonic speeds, a major challenge for the development team will be to solve one of the persistent challenges of supersonic flight – the sonic boom.
NASA is currently developing quieter supersonic aircraft under its (QueSST) X-plane design program along with Lockheed Martin.
