Boom Supersonic, located in Colorado, revealed design improvements for its highly anticipated ultra-fast Overture at the Farnborough International Airshow on July 19, putting the startup one step closer to constructing the “world’s fastest airliner.”
The Overture was already built to fly fairly fast. Boom, however, reduced the Overture’s passenger capacity, increased the number of engines, and modified the fuselage and gull wings to make a more economical and silent aircraft.
According to the company, the high-speed aircraft will now have four smaller wing-mounted engines, which will reduce operational expenses and allow it to fly quietly.rIn addition, these operating costs and allowing faster than the speed of sound over water at Mach 1.7, or around 1,300 miles per hour.
However, due to powerful sonic booms, supersonic aircraft are not permitted to fly at ultra-high speeds over land. As a result, the Overture will only be able to fly at Mach 0.97 while crossing land.
But unfortunately, the engine is only not yet complete. Boom Supersonic’s CEO, Blake Scholl, stated at a press conference that the company is currently looking for engine choices.
The design of the fuselage and gull wings, like the engine count, has altered from prior iterations. According to the company, the fuselage will now be wider towards the front of the plane, reducing drag and boosting fuel efficiency. In contrast, the new gull wings will reduce engine strain and increase safety when the aircraft flies at lower speeds.
Because most of the Overture will be made of carbon fiber composites, the aircraft will be lighter and hence more fuel efficient. Out of Colorado, the business has been testing a little Overture prototype called the Baby Boom.
So far, the net-zero carbon airplane has been subjected to five wind tunnel tests in various locations. According to a representative for Boom, these testing have assisted in improving the Overtures’ performance, control, and fuel efficiency.
A full-scale prototype will be built in 2024 in preparation for the aircraft’s debut in 2025. In addition, boom Supersonic has collaborated with Northrop Grumman to develop Overture variants for government and military applications.
According to a spokesperson, the boom will begin flight tests in Mojave, California, in 2026. The 65 to 80-passenger Overture could begin passenger service by 2029. When fully operational, the ultra-fast aircraft could transport passengers from Newark Liberty International Airport to London in 3.5 hours or from Frankfurt, Germany to London in four hours.