Last Thursday, we explored the latest developments in the next generation of air transportation, specifically that of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
eVTOLs like those being manufactured by Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Volocopter in particular have been making steady progress with regulatory certifications for commercial operations. Both Joby and Archer are on track to begin commercial flights in the U.S. next year, and Volocopter is expected to have initial commercial operations in Europe later this year.
These aircraft are typically designed for four passengers and a pilot with a range of 150-200 miles. They are perfect for turning a 60-90 minute commute by car into just a 10-20 minute flight.
They are equally useful for short hops from a city center to an airport in a matter of minutes for the convenience of skipping the ground traffic and catching a flight.
These types of services have already been commercialized with traditional helicopters by Blade in the New York area, a service that I have used to get to JFK from downtown on occasion.
The major difference, of course, is that eVTOLs operate at 20-25 fewer decibels than a normal commuter helicopter, resulting in flights that are four to five times quieter. Flight costs will be cheaper, as well, dropping to around $3 a mile once flights become regular throughout the day.
But what does the next generation of air transportation look like for longer flights? How is the industry going to radically change those painfully long transatlantic and transpacific flights? And for that matter, who is going to do it?
Last week’s Farnborough Airshow brought some welcome updates about the company that will enable commercial supersonic flight once again – Boom Supersonic.
Boom Supersonic is a Denver, Colorado-based startup founded a decade ago. It has been making incredible progress on its supersonic aircraft – Overture.
Overture Rendering | Source: Boom Supersonic
The supersonic aircraft will be about 200 feet nose to tail, has a range of 4,250 miles, and will be able to carry 64-80 passengers at a cruising altitude of 60,000 feet.
Overture is designed to cruise at Mach 1.7, making it twice as fast as our current travel on commercial aircraft. This will result in flights from Tokyo to Seattle in just four and a half hours, or New York to London in just three and a half. We’ll even be able to make a flight from Los Angeles to Tahiti in just over four hours.
As much as I have flown and will continue to fly, I will go out of my way to travel on routes where Overture is available. The reason is simple, time.
For those of us who regularly have to endure long flights, the possibility of cutting a 10-hour flight into just a five-hour flight is a radical improvement.
It can be hard to sleep on planes, and the noisy, dry, pressurized cabins are not good for rest. And cutting travel time in half will feel like a small miracle for business travelers.
Whether that means recapturing five hours to be used for more meetings, or to get back home to family five hours sooner, it will really make a difference… one that will be worth taking advantage of.
And while the above photo is just a rendering, Boom has already developed and flown its scaled-down prototype, the XB-1.
Below is some footage from XB-1’s inaugural flight this March.
Source: Boom Supersonic
XB-1 is about 62 feet long, nose to tail, compared to Overture at 200 feet.
It’s significant, not just because it tests some of the engineering and design that is the foundation for Overture, but also because it is the first independently developed supersonic jet in history.
More exciting is that Boom’s second test flight of the XB-1 is scheduled to happen any day now. Boom has modified the flight control system over the last few months, which will be tested during the second test flight.
One of the most critical pieces of engineering is, of course, the engine design for Overture. Boom has been working with Florida Turbine Technologies to develop an entirely new engine for supersonic transportation.
The team that has been developing the engine are engineers who designed the supersonic engines for the F-22 and F-35 fighter jets.
Boom’s Symphony Supersonic Engine | Source: Boom Supersonic
Boom has already selected StandardAero to manufacture its supersonic engines in San Antonio, Texas. Production will expand to 330 engines annually in 100,000 square feet of production space.
The company has been making great progress on the engine and will have its first operational engine core completed for testing by next year. This was arguably the most difficult problem to solve, as traditional jet engine manufacturers like General Electric, Rolls Royce, and Pratt & Whitney just didn’t step up to support with a supersonic engine design.
It might be hard to believe that a relatively small, private aerospace company is on track to bring supersonic travel back to commercial air transport, but it is really happening. Boom just completed its Overture manufacturing plant in Greensboro, NC at the Piedmont Triad International Airport last month.
Overture Superfactory | Source: Boom Supersonic
The above facility is capable of producing 33 Overture aircraft a year on its first assembly line. There is space to add a second manufacturing line which will double annual output.
Boom is going to need the capacity. It already has 130 orders from airlines like American, United, and Japan Airlines. American is already positioning to become the airline with the largest supersonic fleet and has placed a non-refundable deposit on its first 20 Overtures, with an option for 40 more.
We’re getting close.
It’s hard to believe that it has been more than two decades since the last commercial flight of the Concorde in October 2003.
We may recall that The Concorde was the supersonic commercial aircraft that supported regularly scheduled commercial flights from 1967 until 2003. Unfortunately, I never had an opportunity to fly on one. I’d love to hear from any readers who had the chance to do so.
With all the advanced technology available to us today, we’re flying slower than we were 25 years ago.
It was a bit of a marketing stunt, but the team at Boom had Mike Bannister – the former Chief Concorde Pilot for British Airways – flight test Overture’s simulator.
Source: Boom Supersonic
In a few more years, perhaps Bannister will have a chance to fly the real thing.
The current plans are to have the complete production design finished by the end of next year, and the first commercial flights by 2029.
I know that may feel like a long wait. But just like the eVTOLs, there is an extensive certification process for commercial aircraft with the FAA to confirm design, safety, and airworthiness.
The most remarkable part of this supersonic development is that the leader in the industry is a startup. The innovation isn’t coming from incumbents like Boeing or Airbus, despite them having access to both the capital and the resources to take on a project like this.
Boom was last valued at $1.2 billion in its Series C round in late 2021, but it’s certainly worth a lot more given the incredible progress it has made. I’ve been expecting a major funding round, or even an acquisition, given the concrete progress the company has been making.
It’s going to take a lot more capital to progress with manufacturing and certification.
But with each milestone achieved, more orders will come in for Overtures in support of the future of commercial aviation.
The Bleeding Edge is the only free newsletter that delivers daily insights and information from the high-tech world as well as topics and trends relevant to investments.
The Bleeding Edge is the only free newsletter that delivers daily insights and information from the high-tech world as well as topics and trends relevant to investments.
