Boom shows off its XB-1 supersonic demonstration passenger airliner

Tech Crunch ^ | 1/12/2017 | Darrell Etherington

[bkopto]

If you’re old enough to remember the Concorde, then startup Boom‘s plans to bring supersonic flight back to commercial passenger air travel is huge. Now Boom is one step closer, as it reveals the XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator, a 1/3-scale prototype of its Boom supersonic passenger aircraft, which will be doing its first supersonic test flights later this year.

The scale demonstration craft is meant to be “technically representative” of what the final airliner will offer, and includes GE engines, Honeywell avionics and Tencate structural carbon fiber elements. Partner Virgin Galactic is going to be helping Boom build its first production aircraft, offering engineering and manufacturing as well as testing and operations support. Virgin also has optioned Boom’s first 10 vehicles, so it’s also the startup’s first customer.

[bkopto]

[SkyPilot]

Is the first picture the single seat fighter version?

[CivilWarBrewing]

“When you fly, make sure you go BOOM!”

[bkopto]

It looks like the F-5E.

[jimtorr]

My first thought was it’s resemblance to a T-36.

[Gay State Conservative]

The fact that both Boeing *and* Airbus have avoided a supersonic aircraft like the plague should tell these guys something.Of course it can be *done*...the question is if it can be done to make a profit for the manufacturer *and* the airlines.

[BenLurkin]

If you’re old enough to remember the Concorde

Good gracious. How old do you have to be?

[Vermont Lt]

I guess we are getting real old.

[TangoLimaSierra]

So, if Korean Airlines buys this, will it be labeled KA Boom?

[tophat9000]

Hell I'm old enough to remember the XB-70

[publius911]

Bookmark

[PLMerite]

Looks more than a little like a scaled-up F-20 Tigershark.

Okay, maybe *just* a little.

[keving]

Chinese are being fabricated on this photos. Cheaper and good for one landoff. Flight and landing not guaranteed.

[USNBandit]

That thing needs longer landing gear........maybe move the wheels closer together, too.

[Rebelbase]

Does it have a sweeping broom on the nose to clear the runway of foreign object debris on takeoff?

[fella]

Heck I’ve traveled on DC-7s, Lockheed Electras, Vicounts and even a Convair 880.

Except for the 880, low and slow.

[AFreeBird]

You mean T-38?

[Elsie]

Even if you could BEAM from JFK to LAX it would STILL be 3 hours on the ground getting felt up by strangers.