Boom XB-1

[Russ35]

The Boom XB-1 is getting ready for its first supersonic flight, on its 12th flight

Live feeds

https://boomsupersonic.com/xb-1

or

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qisIViAHwI

On flight radar tracking it's : KSTRL11 with chase planes : N638TC and N604AX

Edited by Russ35 on Tuesday 28th January 16:16

[Baron Greenback]

Watching also

[Scotty2]

Just took off. Reminds me of TSR2 undercarriage and attitude.

[GliderRider]

Its certainly impressive that a small company has been able to get this far, however, listening to the Boom's CEO on Radio 4 this evening saying that they will be flying passengers in their Overture aircraft within five years, must have had everyone with any real experience in the aircraft industry rolling their eyes. Added to this he went on to say that they would have to develop their own engines.
I wouldn't go so far as to say it won't happen, but it certainly won't be in the claimed timescale.

[Simpo Two]

It looks like a little Concorde when it lands.

[mcdjl]

GliderRider said:

Its certainly impressive that a small company has been able to get this far, however, listening to the Boom's CEO on Radio 4 this evening saying that they will be flying passengers in their Overture aircraft within five years, must have had everyone with any real experience in the aircraft industry rolling their eyes. Added to this he went on to say that they would have to develop their own engines.
I wouldn't go so far as to say it won't happen, but it certainly won't be in the claimed timescale.

I'm sure I remember them saying about 5 (or more) years ago there be doing it in a few years

[Austin Prefect]

It reminds me of the Fairey Delta 2.

[Tony1963]

mcdjl said:

I'm sure I remember them saying about 5 (or more) years ago there be doing it in a few years

Yep, I think it’s one of those standard terms that the industry uses to attract a little more investment.

Even if the FAA (battered and bruised from the Boeing sagas) were to treat it lightly, EASA might want a closer look. Might end up being the Cybertruck of the skies, but without the Nazi connotations.

[wolfracesonic]

It looks like it’s from the 1970’s.

[Tony1963]

The video is hilarious. They’re talking about supersonic flight as though nobody has been there before. Obviously this is an important milestone for the project, but I doubt many youngsters will see that and then want to be involved in the industry.

When Space Karen the Nazi shows off his tools for world domination, lame projects like this are just funny.

Edited by Tony1963 on Wednesday 29th January 09:46

[Austin Prefect]

Tony1963 said:

The video is hilarious. They’re talking about supersonic flight as though nobody has been there before. Obviously is an important milestone for the project, but I doubt many youngsters will see that and then want to be involved in the industry.

When Space Karen the Nazi shows off his tools for world domination, lame projects like this are just funny.

No they weren't. The main presenter identified himself as a former Concorde pilot, the test pilot talked about his experience of supersonic flight in F18s. But they did make the perfectly valid points that this was the first US civil aircraft to go supersonic (not counting ex military jets now in civilian hands obviously) and the first non government funded aircraft to do so.

[Tony1963]

Austin Prefect said:

No they weren't. The main presenter identified himself as a former Concorde pilot, the test pilot talked about his experience of supersonic flight in F18s. But they did make the perfectly valid points that this was the first US civil aircraft to go supersonic (not counting ex military jets now in civilian hands obviously) and the first non government funded aircraft to do so.

Well, to me, for some of it, it was as though I’d been transported to a 1950s newsreel.

[Peterpetrole]

GliderRider said:

Its certainly impressive that a small company has been able to get this far, however, listening to the Boom's CEO on Radio 4 this evening saying that they will be flying passengers in their Overture aircraft within five years, must have had everyone with any real experience in the aircraft industry rolling their eyes. Added to this he went on to say that they would have to develop their own engines.
I wouldn't go so far as to say it won't happen, but it certainly won't be in the claimed timescale.

I was aware of the project and from a quick scoot through wiki for updates - I'm pretty sceptical. The spec seems to be being downgraded (mach 1.7 rather than 2+), it will be smaller than Concorde, and the separate NASA low boom R+D project seems to be taking an eternity - sorry I'm not clear if supersonic noise issues are being addressed fully as they mainly talk about take off noise.

And no major engine supplier is interested. Maybe they are trying to get to the stage of a Bezos or Musk wanting to fund a private jet development?

All a bit underwhelming, and I'm a nerd for this stuff normally.

[Simpo Two]

Tony1963 said:

Well, to me, for some of it, it was as though I’d been transported to a 1950s newsreel.

Happy days, when aviation was much more exciting than it is now.

[Acorn1]

What was the aircraft flying with it? I can't place it.

They mentioned the camera plane was a T38

[Austin Prefect]

Acorn1 said:

What was the aircraft flying with it? I can't place it.

They mentioned the camera plane was a T38

Mirage F1.

[5 In a Row]

Peterpetrole said:

And no major engine supplier is interested. Maybe they are trying to get to the stage of a Bezos or Musk wanting to fund a private jet development?

Probably this - it could be the next boom vapourware area for the Techbros and their followers.

Is Boom valued at $20 Billion yet?

[Acorn1]

Austin Prefect said:

Acorn1 said:

What was the aircraft flying with it? I can't place it.

They mentioned the camera plane was a T38

Mirage F1.

Ah yes, thank you, i was going through US planes in my head, suprised they used a French aircraft?

[Crudeoink]

I haven't seen any reports on the sonic boom? The whole point of this aircraft was to reduce the sonic boom to tolerable levels enabling supersonic flight over land wasn't it ?

[cookie1600]

Surely manufacturers have been making supersonic aircraft for over 70 years? Perhaps they would be better stretching an existing design or airframe rather than starting from something everyone else has already done........