It has been years since we last experienced supersonic commercial flight. The final Concorde commercial flight took place on October 24, 2003, from New York JFK to London Heathrow, known as flight BA2. Since then, there have been no commercial supersonic flights. However, an American aircraft manufacturer, Boom Supersonic, is looking to revive supersonic commercial flights. They are currently developing the Boom Supersonic Overture, intended to be the next generation of efficient yet supersonic commercial airliners.
Wait, the words “efficient” and “supersonic” don’t usually go together. In an efficiency-focused airline industry, how will the Boom Overture supersonic jet attract airlines when we all know speed requires more fuel?
There are already certain airlines that have ordered the Boom Overture, namely United Airlines and American Airlines. The former has an order for 15 jets with 35 options, while the latter has an order for 25 supersonic jets and 40 options.
About the Boom Overture Supersonic Jetliner
Slated for introduction in 2029, the Boom Overture promises to revolutionize air travel with its impressive capabilities. The Overture is designed to reach a speed of Mach 1.7, equivalent to about 1,100 mph or 1,800 km/h. It is a formidable player in the aviation industry thanks to this speed and a sizable range of 4,250 nmi (7,870 km; 4,890 mi).
The Overture’s design is a nod to the iconic Concorde, featuring a delta wing configuration. However, it distinguishes itself with the use of modern composite materials and a redesigned structure. Boom Technology announced big changes to the design in 2022, such as adding four dry 35,000 lbf (160 kN) turbofans. These are meant to meet or adapt to current rules for takeoff noise and overland sonic boom.
The aircraft’s wing configuration is a conventional compound delta, optimized for low supersonic drag. Unlike the SAI Quiet Supersonic Transport (QSST) or the Aerion AS2, the Overture does not feature low sonic boom or laminar supersonic flow technology.
The low 1.5 wing aspect ratio results in high low-speed drag, necessitating high thrust at takeoff. Boom Technology is also addressing the aircraft’s nose-up attitude during landing. The Overture is expected to have airframe maintenance costs similar to other carbon fiber airliners and operate at a quarter of the costs of the Concorde.
The Boom Symphony Engines
Because three engine manufacturers, namely Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, and General Electric, have declined to participate in the project, Boom decided to just manufacture its own engines. The Boom Symphony, a two-spool medium-bypass turbofan engine, is under development specifically for the Overture. This engine is designed to produce 35,000 pounds of thrust at takeoff and sustain the Overture’s supercruise at Mach 1.7. Notably, it will exclusively burn sustainable aviation fuel. The development of this engine involves partnerships with Kratos subsidiary Florida Turbine Technologies for design, GE Additive for additive manufacturing consulting, and StandardAero for maintenance. Production is set to begin in 2024 at the Overture factory in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The FAA and ICAO are actively working on a sonic boom standard to permit supersonic flights overland. NASA’s Low Boom Flight Demonstrator, scheduled to fly in 2022, aims to assess public acceptability of a 75 PNLdB boom, significantly lower than Concorde’s 105 PNLdB.
The Overture is expected to match the takeoff noise levels of current airliners like the Boeing 777-300ER. Furthermore, supersonic jets could potentially be exempted from FAA takeoff noise regulations, allowing for more efficient engine designs.
Will More Airlines Order?
Some airlines have placed options for the Boom Overture, including Japan Airlines and the Virgin Group. However, the Virgin Group decided to withdraw its options. Additionally, the aircraft has 61 options from unidentified customers in the US and Europe. Now, the question is, will this plane sell more? Up to now, we haven’t seen any mock designs, just pure renderings. But let’s give it more time; after all, we still have three more years until the planned first flight in 2026. So, only time will tell.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
