Preparation For First XB-1 Test Flight Advances The last supersonic related aircraft published by JF was an article on the latest NASA X-59 QueSST aircraft, which at the time was moving towards ground testing... https://www.jetforums.net/threads/news-nasa-x-59-moves-towards-ground-testing.4686/#post-29151 . BOOM supersonic is also working on a fly-fast project but for the commercial market. BOOM supersonic is presently advancing its way towards the first flight of the XB-1 which is the scaled-down test demonstrator of what eventually will become the Overture supersonic jet.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has already given the XB-1 an experimental airworthiness certificate. Since moving the XB-1 to the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California, extensive ground testing has been conducted including taxi testing this past week. The XB-1 will join a long list of special aircraft that had their first test flights at this facility.
Bill "Doc" Shoemaker, Chief Test Pilot for Boom Supersonic, said: "It’s fitting that XB-1 is now progressing toward first flight at the Mojave Air & Space Port, home to more than 50 first flights and other significant aviation events. I’m looking forward to flying XB-1 here, building on the achievements of other talented engineers and pilots who inspire us every day to make supersonic travel mainstream." Eventually the Overture will fly on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and run at a speed of Mach 1.7 (around twice as fast as the fastest airliners currently). For more information: BOOM Supersonic www.boomsupersonic.com ***
