Latest news with #AmyMarinoSpowart
Voice of America
05-02-2025
- Business
- Voice of America
New US Jet Breaks Sound Barrier in First Flight Test
An experimental aircraft developed by a private American company broke the sound barrier during a recent flight test. California-based company Boom Supersonic built the plane, named XB-1. The company said the aircraft reached a speed of Mach 1.05 during a test on January 28. The test flight operated from the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California. Any speed greater than Mach 1.0 breaks the sound barrier and is considered supersonic. The American space agency NASA explains that at sea level, the speed of sound is estimated to be about 1,236 kilometers per hour. In a statement, Boom Supersonic said the XB-1 demonstrator aircraft climbed to more than 35,000 feet before reaching Mach 1.0. It recorded the speed within 11 minutes of taking off. The company also released a video feed of the supersonic test flight. The company said in a press release, 'Historically, supersonic aircraft have been the work of nation states, developed by militaries and governments.' But the latest flight made the XB-1 'the world's first independently developed supersonic jet' to break the sound barrier, Boom Supersonic said. The company's founder and chief executive officer, Blake Scholl, said, 'XB-1's supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived.' Boom Supersonic launched in 2014 'with the goal of making high-speed travel mainstream and enabling a new world of human connection.' With that in mind, the company has been working to develop a supersonic passenger airliner called Overture. The aircraft would carry up to 80 passengers. Boom Supersonic is one of several American companies seeking to develop supersonic flight vehicles. NASA is also working on a supersonic aircraft in partnership with a U.S. contractor. The last time supersonic travel was available to passengers was 2003. That is the year the Concorde – the world's first supersonic passenger jet aircraft – stopped service. Britain and France jointly operated the Concorde. But the joint operation between British Airways and Air France suffered several business difficulties that led to the decision to stop flying the supersonic planes. Some of the difficulties were linked to publicity about a deadly Concorde crash in 2000. That incident involved an Air France airliner crashing shortly after taking off from Paris. The crash claimed a total of 113 lives. Boom Supersonic says its planned Overture airliner will be designed to transport passengers from the U.S. East Coast across the Atlantic to Europe in about 3-and-a-half hours. The flight with normal passenger jets takes about eight hours. Amy Marino Spowart is the president and chief executive officer at the National Aeronautic Association. She told The Associated Press the latest supersonic test flight suggests 'the future of aviation is here and now.' Spowart added, 'Not only is there hope for faster and better commercial flight, but Boom proves that it can be done sustainably.' Boom Supersonic has said its planned supersonic airliner will be designed to run on up to 100 percent sustainable aircraft fuel. Such sustainable fuels are made from non-petroleum products, such as food waste or other biomass materials. Both XB-1 and Overture are made mostly from a carbon-based composite material to provide 'a strong, lightweight structure,' the company said. NASA's supersonic aircraft – built together with Lockheed Martin – is called X-59. It is also an experimental plane that is seeking to test the level of noise produced by supersonic travel. Currently, supersonic flights are banned over land because of the loud noise they produce. NASA has explained it plans to carry out testing this year of the X-59 aircraft, which has been designed and engineered to operate at lower noise levels than other supersonic aircraft. The tests – to take place at supersonic test centers in California – are designed 'to prove the quiet supersonic technology works as designed.' NASA said that after that testing is done, the agency plans to begin community reaction studies, beginning in 2026. These will involve flying the X-59 over several cities and then asking people on the ground to share their thoughts on the level of noise they heard. NASA has said the X-59 – which measures 30 meters long and nine meters wide – is expected to fly at 1.4 times the speed of sound. That is about 1,500 kilometers per hour. I'm Bryan Lynn. Quiz - New US Jet Breaks Sound Barrier in First Flight Test Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz The Associated Press, Reuters and Boom Supersonic reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. _______________________________________ Words in This Story mainstream – adj. the beliefs or way of living that are accepted by most people enable – v. to make something possible sustainable – adj. method of energy production that cause little or no damage to the environment composite – adj. made up of several different materials or parts
The Independent
29-01-2025
- Business
- The Independent
First independently developed jet breaks the sound barrier over the California desert
A sleek white aircraft became the first independently developed jet to break the sound barrier Tuesday, tearing through the air tens of thousands of feet above the Mojave Desert and a crowd of delighted onlookers. The XB-1 aircraft accelerated to Mach 1.05 within about 11 minutes of taking off, according to Boom Supersonic and live video of the test flight. The flight at the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California, took place as the company works to revive supersonic passenger travel, which died with the grounding of the Anglo-French Concorde more than two decades ago. Boom plans to focus next on the Overture airliner, which it says will carry as many as 80 passengers while moving at about twice the speed of today's subsonic airliners. 'XB-1's supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived,' Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl said in a statement. 'A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars.' The aircraft, which flew for the first time in March, is made almost completely from lightweight carbon fiber. It uses an augmented reality vision system to help with landing, since its long nose and high-angle approach can make it difficult for pilots to see. 'The future of aviation is here and now,' Amy Marino Spowart, president and CEO of the National Aeronautic Association, said in a statement. 'Not only is there hope for faster and better commercial flight, but Boom proves that it can be done sustainably.' Boom is one of several companies with an eye on supersonic passenger travel. Any new such service will likely face the same hurdles as the Concorde, which flew over the Atlantic and was barred from many overland routes because of the sonic booms it caused. Sonic booms are heard on the ground when airplanes fly faster than the speed of sound — typically about 760 mph (1,223 kph) near sea level but varying depending on temperature, altitude and other conditions, according to the Congressional Research Service. As a supersonic plane speeds through the air, it pushes molecules aside with great force, forming a shock wave 'much like a boat creates a wake in water,' according to NASA. Tuesday's flight happened in the same airspace where in 1947 Charles 'Chuck' Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier, piloting an orange, bullet-shaped Bell X-1 rocket plane.
Euronews
29-01-2025
- Business
- Euronews
London to New York in 3.5 hours: How Boom Supersonic is learning from Concorde's mistakes
Could all our future planes travel faster than the speed of sound? It's been more than 20 years since the last supersonic passenger flight took off, but a US company wants to bring it back. Boom Supersonic, based in Colorado, is developing the world's first supersonic passenger aircraft since the demise of Concorde. While the full-size aircraft is still a few years away, the company has reached a milestone in the project when it successfully broke the sound barrier with its small-scale test aircraft on Tuesday. The XB-1, affectionately known as the 'Baby Boom', is a one-third-scale demonstrator used to test the technology that Boom will employ in its full-scale aircraft. Yesterday, the XB-1 achieved Mach 1.05 within about 11 minutes of taking off. 'XB-1's supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived,' Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl said in a statement. 'A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars'. The aircraft, which flew for the first time in March, is made almost completely from lightweight carbon fibre. It uses an augmented reality vision system to help with landing, since its long nose and high-angle approach can make it difficult for pilots to see. 'The future of aviation is here and now,' told Amy Marino Spowart, president and CEO of the National Aeronautic Association. 'Not only is there hope for faster and better commercial flight, but Boom proves that it can be done sustainably'. Boom's Overture airliner will be the first supersonic passenger aircraft in more than two decades. But can it succeed where past efforts to get us travelling faster have failed? A short history of supersonic passenger planes Back in the 1950s, everyone was convinced that supersonic was the next big thing in air travel. Having just about mastered the jet engine, the aviation industry was inspired by Chuck Yeager, who was the first to break the sound barrier in 1947. Major manufacturers set about designing a commerical passenger aircraft that could do the same thing. Boeing, certain that the mighty 747 would be the last subsonic aircraft it produced, began working on the 2707 SST (supersonic transport). Lockheed proposed the L-2000, a supersonic aircraft that could carry 250 passengers. However, neither aircraft went into production. Just two supersonic passenger planes have ever entered service - the Russian Tupolev Tu-144 and the venerable Anglo-French Concorde. In total, 20 Concordes were built, although only 14 flew in passenger service. Russia built 16 Tu-144s. The Tu-144 - affectionately known in the industry as the 'Concordski' - entered service in 1975 but was retired from passenger service just three years later. Concorde lasted longer, flying from 1976 until 2003. So, why did aviation give up on supersonic passenger transport so soon? What was the problem with Concorde? The appetite for a supersonic passenger plane was strong. By the time Concorde took its first test flight, orders had been received for more than 100 aircraft from dozens of major airlines of the day. Pan Am, American Airlines, BOAC, and Lufthansa were counted among the many carriers keen to fly faster routes. But even before the aircraft entered service with British Airways and Air France, many of these orders had been cancelled. Three main problems existed with the plane - noise, smoke, and money. The 1973 stock market crash and an oil crisis in the same year made airlines rather cautious about aircraft that consumed a lot of fuel. Reports suggested that Concorde achieved a per-passenger fuel efficiency of 15.8 mpg (17.8 L/100 km), making it a rather thirsty option. In comparison, the Boeing 747 would achieve a per-passenger mpg rate of 46.4 (6.1 L/100 km), and the popular Douglas DC-10 managed as high as 53.6 mpg (5.3 L/100 km). Coupled with the worries about fuel consumption, the noise of Concorde's sonic boom caused issues that made its planned routes with potential buyers unviable. Complaints of broken windows and cracked plaster from households under the flight path, and even farmers reporting panic amongst livestock, meant Concorde was banned from going supersonic over land. As a result, the plane was forced to fly subsonic until it got over the open ocean. This meant Concorde's high-speed routes were mainly focused between Europe and the USA, making the plane less attractive to potential buyers who wanted to operate routes over land. In the end, only Air France and British Airways ever flew the Concorde. Putting the aircraft into passenger operation presented yet another challenge, however, as the costs to power such a fuel-hungry jet with a modest passenger load of around 100 people made the business case very weak. In order to make Concorde profitable, both airlines had to charge eye-watering prices for tickets. According to the National Air and Space Museum, British Airways would charge around $12,000 (€11,550) for a round trip between London and New York. Adjusted for inflation, that shakes out to around $66,000 (€63,500) in today's money. The companies made a go out of it - just about. Despite the high costs, both airlines managed to sell tickets, with passengers seeing their trip as a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity. But the cabin was noisy, smelly, and cramped - hardly a luxury experience for the money. The death blow came when an Air France Concorde was involved in a fatal crash in 2000. Debris on the runway was blamed for rupturing a tyre, which then punctured one of the fuel tanks. This caused the plane to crash into a nearby hotel, claiming the lives of 113 people. While both BA and Air France cited high maintenance costs for the retirement of their Concorde fleets in 2003, there were many factors at play. In truth, the market had moved on, and a trend for low-cost flying and more efficient aircraft had made Concorde redundant. Will Boom Supersonic succeed where Concorde failed? If you believe the hype, Boom claims to have already dealt with many of the issues that contributed to Concorde's demise. Noise, cost, and efficiency are high priorities for the company to tackle. Part of Concorde's noise profile was a direct result of the engines using afterburners to achieve supersonic flight. Overture will not use afterburners, which should significantly reduce fuel consumption and the associated noise. For passengers, the cabin is a world away from the cramped, noisy environment on Concorde. Advanced soundproofing measures mean it shouldn't seem any louder than a conventional jet aircraft, and the company has already floated some designs for its interiors that look suitably luxurious and comfortable. The company has developed its own engine solution that it says will reduce fuel consumption. These engines are designed to run on 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel which, although not available at scale yet, would further reduce its environmental impact. Overture hasn't quite managed to eliminate the sonic boom effect, but thanks to more optimised aerodynamics, the impact will be reduced significantly. The company promises that Overture will be able to fly over land at Mach 0.94, about 20 per cent faster than subsonic aircraft, without breaking the sound barrier. For now, the supersonic aircraft would be restricted to breaking the sound barrier over water. Boom says there are more than 600 transoceanic routes on which Overture could provide a supersonic solution without changing current regulations relating to sonic booms. 'Overture was created to achieve optimal performance while meeting our stringent safety and sustainability requirements,' says Boom Supersonic. 'We are leveraging more than fifty years of advancements in aerodynamics, materials, and propulsion to build economically and environmentally viable supersonic aeroplanes'. But what of the market demand? By the end of Concorde's lifespan, British Airways said it was selling only around half of its available tickets. Air France, still suffering from the tragic crash in 2000, was selling less, only around 35 per cent. Concorde's ticket prices were up there in the ultra-luxury category. In contrast, Boom is targeting business travellers, and pricing seats accordingly. Early estimates suggest a round trip Europe to USA ticket for around $5,000 (€4,800), in the ballpark of what passengers pay for business class seats on regular jets today. 'Today, there's both the market demand and the technology to enable mainstream supersonic travel,' the company says. 'Business and leisure travel has continued to grow, and travellers are willing to pay for speed.' Boom is targeting 2029 for the entry into service of its Overture airliner. It has already had orders for 130 aircraft from multiple global airlines, including American Airlines, United, and Japan Airlines. If it can steer clear of the pitfalls that ended Concorde's career, supersonic travel may well be back on the cards.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Supersonic XB-1 jet breaks sound barrier above Mojave Desert
A sleek white aircraft became the first independently developed jet to break the sound barrier Tuesday, tearing through the air tens of thousands of feet above the Mojave Desert and a crowd of delighted onlookers. The XB-1 aircraft accelerated to Mach 1.05 within about 11 minutes of taking off, according to Boom Supersonic and live video of the test flight. The flight at the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California, took place as the company works to revive supersonic passenger travel, which died with the grounding of the Anglo-French Concorde more than two decades ago. Boom plans to focus next on the Overture airliner, which it says will carry as many as 80 passengers while moving at about twice the speed of today's subsonic airliners. "XB-1's supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived," Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl said in a statement. "A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars." The aircraft, which flew for the first time in March, is made almost completely from lightweight carbon fiber. It uses an augmented reality vision system to help with landing, since its long nose and high-angle approach can make it difficult for pilots to see. "The future of aviation is here and now," Amy Marino Spowart, president and CEO of the National Aeronautic Association, said in a statement. "Not only is there hope for faster and better commercial flight, but Boom proves that it can be done sustainably." Boom is one of several companies with an eye on supersonic passenger travel. Any new such service will likely face the same hurdles as the Concorde, which flew over the Atlantic and was barred from many overland routes because of the sonic booms it caused. Sonic booms are heard on the ground when airplanes fly faster than the speed of sound - typically about 760 mph (1,223 kph) near sea level but varying depending on temperature, altitude and other conditions, according to the Congressional Research Service. As a supersonic plane speeds through the air, it pushes molecules aside with great force, forming a shock wave "much like a boat creates a wake in water," according to NASA. Tuesday's flight happened in the same airspace where in 1947 Charles "Chuck" Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier, piloting an orange, bullet-shaped Bell X-1 rocket plane.
Boston Globe
29-01-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
First independently developed jet breaks the sound barrier over the California desert
Boom plans to focus next on the Overture airliner, which it says will carry as many as 80 passengers while moving at about twice the speed of today's subsonic airliners. 'XB-1's supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived,' Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl said in a statement. 'A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The aircraft, which flew for the first time in March, is made almost completely from lightweight carbon fiber. It uses an augmented reality vision system to help with landing, since its long nose and high-angle approach can make it difficult for pilots to see. Advertisement 'The future of aviation is here and now,' Amy Marino Spowart, president and CEO of the National Aeronautic Association, said in a statement. 'Not only is there hope for faster and better commercial flight, but Boom proves that it can be done sustainably.' Boom is one of several companies with an eye on supersonic passenger travel. Any new such service will likely face the same hurdles as the Concorde, which flew over the Atlantic and was barred from many overland routes because of the sonic booms it caused. Sonic booms are heard on the ground when airplanes fly faster than the speed of sound — typically about 760 mph (1,223 kph) near sea level but varying depending on temperature, altitude and other conditions, according to the Congressional Research Service. As a supersonic plane speeds through the air, it pushes molecules aside with great force, forming a shock wave 'much like a boat creates a wake in water,' according to NASA. Advertisement Tuesday's flight happened in the same airspace where in 1947 Charles 'Chuck' Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier, piloting an orange, bullet-shaped Bell X-1 rocket plane.
