For the first time since Concorde’s farewell flight over two decades ago, a supersonic airliner has shattered the sound barrier. Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 test jet roared past Mach 1.1 over California’s Mojave Desert, marking a major step toward the return of commercial supersonic travel.
At the helm was Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, who guided the jet to a smooth landing after a 34-minute ride through the stratosphere. Boom’s founder and CEO Blake Scholl called it “phenomenal,” declaring, “We’re ready to build the passenger jet that will pick up where Concorde left off.”
That jet, dubbed Overture, aims to carry 80 passengers at Mach 1.7—twice the speed of today’s commercial airliners. United, American, and Japan Airlines have all expressed interest, with United securing an option to buy 15 jets. If all goes to plan, Boom’s supersonic dream will be airborne by 2030, cruising at 60,000 feet—high enough to glimpse the curvature of the Earth.
Unlike its predecessor, Overture is designed to be quieter and, crucially, profitable. Concorde guzzled fuel, deafened airport neighborhoods, and hemorrhaged money, ultimately sealing its fate. Scholl insists Boom won’t repeat history: “The real challenge isn’t breaking the sound barrier—it’s breaking the economic barrier.”
Concorde may have faded into history, but Boom Supersonic is betting big that the future of flight is fast.
