XB-1 Flight Test Program Live Blog

XB-1, continues to progress toward Mach 1. Beginning with XB-1's historic first flight on March 22, 2024, Boom's demonstrator aircraft is advancing through its flight test program to confirm its performance and handling qualities, with approximately 10 subsonic flights planned before reaching supersonic speeds.

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.

Here, we'll be sharing updates throughout the XB-1 flight test program to keep you up to speed with the aircraft's progress toward supersonic flight.

Boom's Flight Test Program Approach

Nick Sheryka, XB-1 Chief Flight Test Engineer, speaks to Boom's progressive approach to flight testing, which is rooted in our philosophy that safety is the ultimate mission.

September 2024: XB-1 Flight Four

• Max altitude: 16,150 ft
• Speed: Mach 0.617 (313 KIAS)
• Flight time: approximately 48 minutes
• Pilot: Chief Test Pilot Tristan "Geppetto" Brandenburg
• Key test points:
  • New top speed of Mach 0.617 achieved
  • First use of the flutter excitation system (FES) in flight
  • Handling quality checks between 225 and 300 knots
  • Applied elevated g-forces of 2.78g in preparation for supersonic flight
  • Landing gear extended and retracted at 225 knots (max safe speed)

Just eight days after its third test flight, XB-1 successfully completed its fourth - and fastest - test flight on September 21, 2024. During this flight, XB-1 reached the highest speeds so far at Mach 0.617, or 313 knots indicated airspeed - more than halfway to breaking the sound barrier at Mach 1.

This flight marks the first use of the flutter excitation system (FES) in flight. The FES is a vibration device that we can turn on in order to hit structural vibration modes deliberately before we would encounter them naturally in flight.

In addition to checking basic handling qualities of the aircraft at various speeds between 225 and 300 knots, the team took XB-1 up to 2.78g (or g-force), using a flight test technique called a wind up turn to put elevated g-forces on an aircraft. This is the highest we intend to see during XB-1's flight test program. When we get to supersonic flight, XB-1 will have to clear a turn at 2g to line up for the supersonic run - the team is testing the aircraft with an extra margin to increase safety.

The landing gear was retracted at a max speed of 225 knots, completing this portion of system testing. During future test flights, the team will retract the landing gear immediately after takeoff.

The flight reached a maximum altitude of 16,150 feet, with a total flight time of 48 minutes. XB-1 was flown by Boom Chief Test Pilot, Tristan "Geppetto" Brandenburg, who flew the second and third flights of XB-1 and will also pilot the aircraft's first supersonic flight.

September 2024: XB-1 Flight Three

• Max altitude: 15,000 ft
• Speed: 232 KIAS
• Flight time: approximately 32 minutes
• Pilot: Chief Test Pilot Tristan "Geppetto" Brandenburg
• Key test points:
  • Achieved maximum pitch and yaw attitudes expected in flight
  • Environmental control system (ECS) checks and tuning
  • Landing gear extended and retracted at 215 knots
  • Continued testing of the stability augmentation system

On September 13, 2024, XB-1 flew for the third time, and Chief Test Pilot Tristan "Geppetto" Brandenburg was at the controls.

Boom XB-1 Chief Test Pilot, Tristan "Geppetto" Brandenburg.

During this flight, the team continued to test key systems and performance as they systematically expand the flight envelope. The pilot, Geppetto, took XB-1 to the maximum pitch and yaw attitudes that we expect to see in flight. This testing was done at a safe, higher altitude to ensure there were no unexpected handling qualities. We do this kind of testing so that the first time it happens, it is not in a critical phase of flight.

The team also checked the performance of the environmental control system (ECS), which controls the temperature and pressurization of the cockpit. This test is to ensure that the ECS is functioning as designed before XB-1 goes to higher altitudes, where it is colder and the pressure is lower. The landing gear was extended and retracted at higher speeds than previous flights (215 knots), marking the second of three steps working up to the maximum safe speed for raising and lowering the gear, which is 225 knots. Additionally, the team continued testing of the stability augmentation system.

Read more on XB-1's third flight here.

August 2024: XB-1 Flight Two

• Max altitude: 10,400ft
• Speed: 232 KIAS
• Flight time: approximately 15 minutes
• Pilot: Chief Test Pilot Tristan "Geppetto" Brandenburg's first flight in XB-1
• Key test points:
  • Landing gear retracted and extended in-flight for the first time
  • Digital stability augmentation system demonstrated in-flight
  • Tufting applied to the right wing in order to verify aerodynamic characteristics

In August, XB-1 successfully completed its second flight at the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California with Chief Test Pilot Tristan "Geppetto" Brandenburg at the controls for the first time.

The landing gear was retracted and extended in flight for the first time, which is typical of second test flights. The XB-1 team also assessed aircraft handling qualities, and demonstrated a new stability augmentation system, or roll damper. This roll damper was implemented to improve handling qualities based on learnings from first flight.
Read more on XB-1's second flight here.

March 2024: XB-1 Successfully Completes First Flight

• Max altitude: 7,120ft
• Speed: 238 KIAS
• Flight time: 12 minutes
• Pilot: Bill "Doc" Shoemaker
• Key test points:
  • Initial assessment of the aircraft's handling qualities
  • Airspeed checks with the T-38 chase aircraft
  • Assessing the aircraft's stability in the landing attitude

On March 22, 2024, XB-1, the world's first independently developed supersonic jet, took flight for the first time at the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California.

Piloted by Test Pilot Bill "Doc" Shoemaker, XB-1 safely and successfully achieved an altitude of 7,120 feet and speeds up to 238 knots (273 mph). 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).

"XB-1 took flight in the same hallowed airspace where the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier in 1947," said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic. "I've been looking forward to this flight since founding Boom in 2014, and it marks the most significant milestone yet on our path to bring supersonic travel to passengers worldwide."

Two decades after Concorde's retirement, the historic first flight of XB-1 marked the return of a civil supersonic aircraft to the skies and paves the way for the revival of mainstream supersonic travel onboard Overture, Boom's sustainable supersonic airliner.

Learn more about XB-1's first flight here.

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