American startup will test a supersonic aircraft

The days of supersonic travel are becoming a reality, and it is not giants like Airbus or Boeing that are leading the way, but small startups, including one Colorado-based aviation firm that just launched a flying prototype of a supersonic airliner. This is reported by Business Insider, news.finance.ua writes.

Boom Supersonic has been at the forefront of the relaunch of supersonic commercial flights with its own Overture development, a Concorde-class jet that is slated to debut in 2025. The $ 200 million aircraft, if successful, could cut travel time in half and make anywhere in the world much more accessible.

The Concorde was famous for its three-hour transatlantic flight between the East Coast and Europe, which allowed travelers to have breakfast in New York and dine in Paris or have breakfast in London and have lunch in Washington. But between modern aircraft and the next supersonic era, there are thousands of hours of flight testing.

Boom has completed work on a prototype that will flight test and prove its technology is suitable for large-scale commercial flights. The single-pilot demonstrator known as the XB-1 will take to the skies next year and pave the way for Overture.

The airlines have already shown interest and willingness to return to supersonic travel, as Virgin Atlantic Airways and Japan Airlines are investors in the company, which has received 30 pre-orders. Even the U.S. Air Force wants a potential supersonic Air Force One.