In January 2024, Boom Supersonic XB-1 private civilian airplane made history by breaking the sound barrier live for the first time. On February 10, it repeated its success. But the main thing is that no classic sonic boom was heard during the flights on the ground. This was made possible through innovative technology and a partnership with NASA that helped capture unique images of supersonic waves.
Technology that makes the invisible visible
NASA experts used schlieren photography to visualize shock waves from XB-1. This technique captures changes in air density around an airplane during supersonic flight above Mach 1. The perfect shot required:
- Exact flight coordinates;
- Pilot Tristan Brandenburg’s masterful maneuvers over the Mojave Desert;
- Ground-based telescopes with ultrasensitive filters.
We nailed it.
During XB-1’s second supersonic flight, we partnered with @NASA to take this Schlieren image of XB-1 pushing through the air at supersonic speeds. Here’s the shot, captured by NASA teams on the ground. It documents the changing air density around XB-1 and the… pic.twitter.com/89HFHQ30W3— Boom Supersonic (@boomaero) March 3, 2025
The result was impressive photographs with the solar disk serving as a backdrop for the shock waves. “It’s a snapshot of the future,” emphasized Boom founder Blake Scholl.
Secret of the silent revolution
During the tests, Boom Supersonic placed microphones along the XB-1’s trajectory. The data confirmed: there was no sonic boom on the ground. This paves the way for commercial supersonic flights over populated areas, banned since 1973 because of noise pollution.
The Boomless Cruise technology developed from these tests will be the basis for the future Overture airliner. It will be able to fly at Mach 1.3 (1,600 km/h), reducing a New York-Los Angeles flight, for example, from 6 hours to 3 hours.
Future of supersonic aviation
The company has already received 130 pre-orders for Overture from United Airlines, American Airlines and Japan Airlines. Production will take place at the North Carolina plant, where they plan to produce 66 airplanes annually.
Overture will use eco-fuel, which will reduce its carbon impact by 80% compared to traditional airplanes.
“Our goal is to make supersonic flights affordable and environmentally sustainable,” Scholl added.
The XB-1 is just the first step. The Boom Supersonic has the potential to change aviation in a future that is faster, quieter, more efficient and more affordable for millions of passengers.
Earlier we reported on how NASA and Boeing unveiled the eco-friendly X-66A airplane.
According to interestingengineering.com
