XB-1 “Son of Concorde” promises flight between London and New York in under 4 hours (Instagram @boomsupersonic)
The supersonic jet XB-1, nicknamed “Son of Concorde“, is set to break the sound barrier in early 2025.
Built by Boom Technology, based in Colorado, the aircraft reached transonic speeds of Mach 0.95 in its latest tests. During a test flight in December 2024, the XB-1 achieved Mach 0.95 at an altitude of 32,417 feet, and in the January 2025 test, it reached an altitude of 29,481 feet, slightly higher than Mount Everest. The company plans to continue testing before reaching supersonic speeds.
The goal is for the XB-1 to transport passengers from London to New York in just 3.5 hours, a journey that currently takes about 8 hours.
Meanwhile, other experimental jets, such as Dawn Aerospace’s MK-11 Aurora, are also advancing in supersonic flight. However, commercial supersonic aircraft have been banned in several countries due to high noise levels and elevated operational costs. The Concorde, for instance, was retired from service because of these issues.
Despite historical restrictions and challenges, companies are renewing efforts to create supersonic and even hypersonic jets. Regulators are considering revising bans, which could pave the way for the future of high-speed air travel.
Source: The Sun | Photo: Instagram @boomsupersonic | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
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