XB-1 has completed three supersonic flights without creating an audible sonic boom on the ground. Sound waves bend when traveling through air with different temperatures. Due to the colder temperatures at high altitude, the sound waves make a U-turn in the atmosphere.
Boom Supersonic's demonstration aircraft XB-1 reached a speed of 750 mph (Mach 1.122) at an altitude of 35 000 feet during its first supersonic flight. XB-1 is the first civil supersonic aircraft developed by a private company, without government or military support.
Boom Supersonic will deliver the passenger aircraft Overture, flying at 1,300 miles per hour (Mach 1.7), to airlines in 2029. A journey between New York and London will take 3 hours and 40 minutes, compared to today's 7 hours.
The engine is designed to run on liquid natural gas which costs one-tenth of traditional jet fuel and emits 30 percent less carbon dioxide.