Boom supersonic demonstrator aircraft breaks sound barrier 3 times on debut

XB-1, Boom’s supersonic demonstrator aircraft, successfully broke the sound barrier three times during its first supersonic flight on January 28, 2025. Beginning with XB-1’s historic first flight on March 22, 2024, the aircraft steadily progressed through a series of test flights at increasing speeds as it approached and ultimately exceeded Mach 1 – becoming the first civil supersonic jet to do so since Concorde. XB-1 is the world’s first independently developed supersonic jet, and the first civil supersonic jet designed and built in America.

XB-1 provides the foundation for the design and development of Overture, Boom’s supersonic airliner. XB-1 leverages state-of-the-art technologies to enable efficient supersonic flight including digitally-optimized aerodynamics, carbon fiber composites, advanced supersonic engine intakes, and an augmented reality vision system for takeoff and landing visibility.

From thousands of hours reviewing ground and flight test data, to more than a few games of pre-flight pickleball, every number tells the story of how far the team has come on the journey to making supersonic a reality. The team accomplished the goal of safely breaking the sound barrier – not just once, but three times – during XB-1’s first supersonic flight on January 28, 2025.