Supersonic Jets Are Making a Comeback For Air Passengers

Exciting news in the aviation world! American company Boom Supersonic has made history with its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft, soaring past the speed of sound. This achievement marks the first time a piloted non-military aircraft has broken the sound barrier since the Concorde retired in 2003.

But this is just the beginning! Boom has set its sights high, aiming to revolutionize air travel with supersonic airliners carrying passengers by 2029. While most passenger jets typically cruise at about Mach 0.8—keeping it just under the sound barrier—Boom is planning to introduce a game-changing airliner named Overture that could fly at an impressive Mach 1.7. Imagine slashing a trip from New York to Rome down to just 4 hours and 40 minutes, instead of the traditional 8-hour slog!

And Boom isn’t flying solo in this ambitious venture. American company Spike Aerospace is also in the race, crafting a supersonic business jet with the catchy motto “delivering the world in half the time.” This bold leap into supersonic passenger travel is all about efficiency and speed.

While supersonic travel has flirted with existence in the 20th century, it faced its share of challenges—timing, luck, and the relentless laws of physics kept it grounded. Now, as technology advances, the dream of faster-than-sound journeys may finally take flight!

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