Justyn Melrose and Steve Doyle have an exciting update to a story we first brought you back in September of 2022. From FOX8 WGHP:

Boom Supersonic hit a landmark achievement in the skies over the Mojave Desert, placing the aerospace company a sizeable step closer to creating its carbon-neutral commercial jet in the Piedmont Triad. 

On Friday, the company announced that its XB-1 aircraft, built at the company’s headquarters in Denver, flew successfully at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave California. Boom describes the jet as “the world’s first independently developed supersonic jet.”

According to Boom, XB-1 met all of its test objectives, soaring to an altitude of 7,120 feet and hitting speeds up to 273 mph. 

“Today, XB-1 took flight in the same hallowed airspace where the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier in 1947,” said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, in a news release. “I’ve been looking forward to this flight since founding Boom in 2014, and it marks the most significant milestone yet on our path to bring supersonic travel to passengers worldwide.” 

In the Bell X-1, renowned pre-space-flight jet jockey then-Capt. Chuck Yeager became the first to break the sound barrier during a flight over the Mojave. 

In the cockpit of XB-1 was Chief Test Pilot Bill “Doc” Shoemaker. Test Pilot Tristan “Gepetto” Brandenburg flew the T-38 chase aircraft to monitor the flight. They two have “flown” the jet in numerous simulator hours.

“Everyone on the XB-1 team should be incredibly proud of this achievement,” Shoemaker said. “It has been a privilege to share this journey with so many dedicated and talented professionals. The experience we have gained in reaching this milestone will be invaluable to Boom’s revival of supersonic travel.”

Boom’s success with XB-1 paves the way for greater heights with the planned Overture aircraft. With XB-1, Boom aimed to prove that independently-built supersonic flight is possible and to test specifics related to Overture, such as technology and safety protocols, according to Boom spokesperson Aubrey Scanlan.

Update from August 26, 2024: Boom Supersonic successfully completes more tests

Photo above courtesy of Boom Supersonic. To read the entire article (along with some more nifty pictures), please visit FOX8 WGHP.