Boom Supersonic achieves first XB-1 demonstrator flight

XB-1 takes off on its inaugural flight. Source (All Images) | Boom Supersonic

On March 22, Boom Supersonic’s (Denver, Colo., U.S.) XB-1 supersonic aircraft demonstrator achieved its first successful flight in Mojave, California. Like Overture, XB-1 leverages technologies that will enable efficient supersonic flight including carbon fiber composites, advanced avionics, digitally optimized aerodynamics and an advanced supersonic propulsion system.

Flown by chief test pilot Bill “Doc” Shoemaker, XB-1 took off from the Mojave Air & Space Port and flew in the same airspace that hosted many historic first flights, including the flights of the Bell X-1, the North American X-15 and the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. Test pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg flew the T-38 chase aircraft which monitored XB-1 in the air. Chase planes accompany new aircraft on their maiden flights to observe how the test plane is handling and verify things like altitude, airspeed and airworthiness during flight.
importantly, XB-1 met all of its test objectives, including safely and achieving an altitude of 7,120 feet and speeds up to 238 knots (273 miles per hour). While XB-1 was in the air, the team performed an initial assessment of the aircraft’s handling qualities, including airspeed checks with the T-38 chase aircraft, and assessing the aircraft’s stability in the landing attitude (at a high angle of attack).