Jet that could fly from London to NYC in 3.5 hours steps closer to reality
Concorde-style flights capable of blasting passengers from London to New York City in 3.5 hours have edged closer to reality after a major ban was lifted.
'Son of Concorde' maker Boom Technology has welcomed President Trump's executive order that effectively lifts the 52-year ban on civil supersonic flight over land in the US.
Tight restrictions on supersonic flights have been in place due to the loud sonic boom created by the shock waves from a flying object travelling faster than the speed of sound.
'America once led the world in supersonic aviation, but decades of stifling regulations grounded progress,' the White House said.
'This Order removes regulatory barriers so that US companies can dominate supersonic flight once again.'
To hit supersonic speeds, an aeroplane needs to travel at 768 miles (1235km/h) per hour.
But Boom Technology has been working on a jet that has no audible sonic boom.
The firm managed to make its XB-1 test jet fly faster than the speed of sound for the first time in January this year.
Writing on X, the company welcomed the latest move, saying: 'Thank you, President Trump, for unlocking the future of faster and quieter travel.'
'This presidential action comes after a bipartisan group of key Congressional leaders introduced the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act on May 14, 2025.
'The legislation calls on the FAA to revise the regulation prohibiting supersonic flight over land.'
After finishing tests with XB-1 in January, Boom is now focused on building a plane suitable for passengers called Overture.
Some 130 aircraft pre-orders have already been made by the likes of American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines.
The executive order does come with a set of rules that the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been directed to impose.
An interim 'noise-based certification standard' must be established that considers 'community acceptability, economic reasonableness, and technological feasibility'.
Trump was presented with a miniature model of Overture earlier this year from Boom Technology's CEO.
He suggested that Boom should manufacture Air Force One - the President's personal plane - and made a dig at China President Xi Jinping.
'Air Fore Once should be supersonic. Xi [President of China] can keep his 747-8,' he wrote.
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