Earlier this year, Boom Supersonic’s technology demonstrator, the XB-1, was transferred from the company’s hangar in Centennial, Colorado, to the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California, to continue flight preparations. Since its arrival, the aircraft has undergone numerous ground tests, including taxi tests during the penultimate week of August.
Ground tests
Earlier this year, Boom Supersonic’s technology demonstrator, the XB-1, was transferred from the company’s hangar in Centennial, Colorado, to the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California, to continue flight preparations. Since its arrival, the aircraft has undergone numerous ground tests, including taxi tests during the penultimate week of August. “Recent progress toward the first flight of the XB-1 reflects the team’s collective efforts to build and safely fly the first independently developed supersonic aircraft,” said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic.
FAA grants experimental airworthiness certificate
In addition to ongoing testing, the XB-1 recently received a certificate of experimental airworthiness from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), following a detailed inspection of the aircraft. Boom also obtained letters of authorization allowing chief test pilot Bill “Doc” Shoemaker and test pilot Tristan “Gepetto” Brandenburg to fly the XB-1. The flight tests will take place over the Mojave Desert. The aircraft manufacturer does not, however, specify how many flights the XB-1 should carry out or what the extent of the flight test program will be over time. No first flight date has been brought forward.
XB-1 and T-38 in the skies of Mojave
To prepare for flight, Boom test pilots spent hundreds of hours in the simulator for aircraft evaluation, operations development, training and human factors assessment. Test pilots also maintain flight proficiency on a T-38 trainer aircraft, the same aircraft that will be used as the chase aircraft for all XB-1 flight tests. To further increase safety, test pilots will use the T-38 to practice formation flying. The aircraft features a carbon composite and titanium fuselage. With its modified delta wing, the aircraft is powered by three General Electric J85 engines that equip the XB-1 producing a maximum combined thrust of 12,300 lbf. The device will allow the accumulation of data and experience necessary for the continued development and construction of the Overture commercial supersonic transport aircraft, which will fly at Mach 1.7. For the latter, the question of engine has not yet been resolved: although studies are currently continuing, for the moment no turbojet has been tested on the ground bench.
