The XB-1 aircraft is getting closer to supersonic flight

Boom Supersonic, a pioneer in advanced aviation technology, has successfully completed the 11th flight of its experimental XB-1 aircraft . This progress strengthens the path toward the aircraft’s first supersonic flight , planned for later this year.

✈️ Blinked and missed it? XB-1 Flight 11 just flew by.

Today’s flight over the Mojave Desert cleared critical handling checks required for supersonic flight. We achieved:

✅ Top speed: Mach 0.95 (575 KTAS, 662 MPH)
✅ Max altitude: 29,481 ft.
✅ Expanded dynamic pressure tests… pic.twitter.com/A1rW7azyvC
— Boom Supersonic (@boomaero) January 10, 2025

Towards supersonic flight

During the 44-minute flight at Mojave Air and Space Port in California, the XB-1 reached a transonic speed of Mach 0.95 and a maximum altitude of 29,481 feet . Additionally, a dynamic pressure of 383 KEAS was tested, higher than what it will experience at supersonic speeds, ensuring the safety and optimal performance of the aircraft.

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Designed to be efficient and sustainable, the XB-1 features digitally optimized aerodynamics, carbon fiber composites and an augmented reality vision system. These features, in addition to ensuring advanced performance, lay the groundwork for the development of the Overture , the supersonic passenger aircraft that Boom plans to market.

Following a thorough analysis of Flight 11 data, the Boom team will determine whether another test is necessary before breaking the sound barrier . This will establish the XB-1 as a benchmark in aviation and mark a significant step toward the future of commercial supersonic travel.

What is the sound barrier?

Simply put, the sound barrier is a kind of “invisible wall” that forms when something moves through the air as fast as the speed of sound . That speed is approximately 1,235 km/h (or 343 m/s) in air, although it can vary depending on temperature and pressure.

When an airplane or any object approaches at this speed, the sound waves it generates “pile up” in front of it, because they cannot disperse faster than the object is moving. This creates an increase in pressure and resistance, making it difficult to exceed that speed, as if you were pushing against a wall.

If the object manages to go faster than the speed of sound (breaking that barrier), those pressure waves are released suddenly, producing a loud “sonic boom” that sounds like an explosion. The speed of sound is broken when reaching Mach 1.

In March 2024, the company announced the first test flight of the XB-1. Watch the video below to relive that moment.