American has ordered 20 Boom Overture supersonic jets and is set to become the largest customer of the ultra-fast plane

Boom Supersonic is a Colorado-based startup that's leading the development of supersonic aircraft to usher in a new era of commercial air travel.

Boom Supersonic

In June 2021, it partnered with United Airlines, which ordered 15 of Boom's $200 million aircraft, Overture, with an option for 35 more. The deal is worth $3 billion.

United Airlines is buying 15 supersonic jets that could fly Newark to London in less than 4 hours

"Our mission has always been about connecting people and now working with Boom, we'll be able to do that on an even greater scale," United CEO Scott Kirby said.

Boom Supersonic

Source: Insider

Following United, American Airlines announced an order for 20 Overture jets on Tuesday. The company has an option for 40 more and is set to become the largest operator of the supersonic plane.

Boom Supersonic

Source: Boom Supersonic

"Looking to the future, supersonic travel will be an important part of our ability to deliver for our customers," American's CFO Derek Kerr said. "We are excited about how Boom will shape the future of travel both for our company and our customers."

American Airlines

Source: Boom Supersonic

Japan Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways are the only other carriers to take interest in the jet. JAL invested $10 million in Boom Supersonic in 2017 and has the option to buy 20 Overtures in a pre-order agreement.

Boom Supersonic

Source: Boom Overture, Space.com

Boom's aircraft may also fly the US president as the US Air Force is interested in using Overture as a future "Air Force One."

Boom Supersonic

The Boom Overture jet is vying to become the first supersonic Air Force One — here's an early look

Boom hopes to get travelers flying greater than the speed of sound by 2030, less than 30 years since the iconic Concorde's retirement from the skies in 2003.

AP

Boom Supersonic just sold 15 faster-than-sound jets to United. Its CEO explains how fuel efficiency and better economics will help him succeed where the Concorde failed.

Overture is a Concorde-like plane that plans to fly at Mach 1.7, or about 1,300 miles per hour, which is greater than the speed of sound.

Boom Supersonic

The jet will have a range of up to about 4,900 miles with the capability to connect over 600 city pairs in record time, like Miami to London in five hours or Los Angeles to Honolulu in three hours.

Boom Supersonic

Overture aims to also fly above traditional aircraft at a cruising altitude of 60,000 feet. No current commercial aircraft can currently access that height.

Boom Supersonic

The New York-London route is a prime candidate for the aircraft with United touting a three-hour and 30-minute journey time from its hub at Newark Liberty International Airport to the UK capital.

Newark-Los Angeles would be slightly shorter if overland flights are permitted, however, current laws only allow supersonic flights over water due to the loud sonic boom. So, the Overture will only fly at Mach 0.97 as it crosses land.

Boom Supersonic

Since the rollout of its first prototype, XB-1, also known as Baby Boom, the plane is still on track to fly at supersonic speeds, but its design has been tweaked to offer better efficiency and reduced noise.

Boom Supersonic has unveiled the latest design for its ultra-fast airliner that will be able to fly from New York to London in 3.5 hours — see the new Overture

Specifically, the plane now has one extra engine, has reduced capacity, and its fuselage and gull wings were reconfigured. The modifications will decrease the jet's overall operating costs and noise pollution, according to Boom.

Boom Supersonic

With its new design, the Overture will be configured in a 1-1 all-business class layout and carry between 65 and 80 passengers. Previously, it planned to carry up to 88 travelers.

Boom Supersonic

Overture, in its service for United and American, will be net-zero carbon and be powered by sustainable aviation fuel.

But making Overture mainstream would require an expansion of a sustainable aviation fuel infrastructure as the biofuels are currently limited to certain airports.

Overture is expected to debut in 2025 with its first flight planned for 2026.

Boom Supersonic

The first passengers are expected to fly on Overture in 2029, truly marking the beginning of a new era for supersonic travel.

Boom Supersonic

The development of the Overture is currently in the prototype phase. So far, Baby Boom has undergone five wind tunnel tests performed in multiple locations.

The startup that wants to bring back ultra-fast supersonic travel just unveiled the prototype for its Overture passenger plane – take a look at the XB-1

These tests have helped Boom improve the Overtures' performance, control, and fuel efficiency, a spokesperson told Insider.

Source: Boom Supersonic

The prototype is also testing General Electric J85 engines. Boom needs to ensure the XB-1 systems meet or exceed specifications before the plane is sent to California for flight testing, which is set for 2026, according to a spokesperson.

Source: Boom Supersonic

While the prototype is currently being tested near Denver, the company revealed in January that it has chosen Greensboro, North Carolina, to build and test the Overture jet that airlines hope to eventually operate.

Source: Boom Supersonic, CNBC

According to Boom, the plant is expected to employ more than 2,400 workers by 2032, cover 65 acres, and have an economic impact of more than $32.3 billion over 20 years.

Source: Boom Supersonic, CNBC

"This is the right choice for us and we couldn't be more excited," Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic told CNBC. "Greensboro brings a significant, local skilled labor population and there are more than two hundred aerospace suppliers in the state. Many will be key suppliers for The Overture."

Source: Boom Supersonic, CNBC

The company explained it will continue to design planes at its Colorado headquarters, but chose Greensboro for building and testing due to its close proximity to the Atlantic coast.

Source: Boom Supersonic, CNBC

"The vast majority of our flight tests will be over the water, where the plane can speed up so there is not a sonic boom over populated areas," Scholl said.

Source: Boom Supersonic, CNBC