Its objective is to resurrect Concorde and drop below 4 hours for intercontinental flights. Something that seemed impossible a few years ago, but is getting closer to becoming a reality. This is the XB-1, from Boom Supersonic, and recently completed the seventh of 10 planned subsonic test flights to confirm performance and handling qualities before attempting to reach supersonic speeds.
During the test flight on November 5, which lasted 55 minutes, the XB-1 reached an altitude of 7,015 meters and a new maximum speed of 1,012 km/h. This means that The plane reached Mach 0.82, marking an important milestone in its progress towards crossing the Mach 1 threshold and breaking the sound barrier.
“The XB-1, Boom’s supersonic demonstration aircraft, continues to advance towards Mach 1 – say those responsible for Boom Supersonic in a statement -. The seventh flight focused on expanding the vibration envelope and in cabin pressure testing to ensure safe performance and handling qualities as the XB-1 approaches supersonic speeds and higher altitudes.”
The XB-1 made its maiden flight earlier this year on March 22. The fastest speed the plane had traveled on previous test flights was Mach 0.69.
During the most recent flight of the XB-1, vibration excitation system (FES) tests were conducted at Mach 0.7, 0.75, and 0.8. Vibration testing helps ensure that there are no undesirable interactions between the airflow around the vehicle and the airframe at increasing speeds, according to the statement.
The team, which also reached its highest altitude yet, performed a final cabin pressurization test at maximum pressure differential, demonstrating that the aircraft is ready to advance to 30,000 feet (9,144 m)the altitude at which the XB-1 will fly when it reaches supersonic speeds.
“The XB-1 will continue to perform tests at progressively faster speeds and higher altitudesto prepare the aircraft and equipment to break the sound barrier at Mach 1,” the statement added.
The performance of the XB-1 provides the basis for the design and development of the company’s flagship project, the Overture, a supersonic passenger plane planned intended to make air travel much faster and more efficient.
The Overture would reach speeds of Mach 1.7, according to Boom Supersonic, which is equivalent to about 2,100 km/h. This would make a flight between Madrid and New York last less than 4 hours and one to Tokyo, do not exceed 7 hours.