Colorado-based Boom Supersonic is another step closer to bringing mainstream supersonic travel back to our skies with its Colorado XB-1 demonstrator successfully completing its second test flight.

The XB-1 demonstrator’s test programme began in March 2024, when it took to the skies for the first time.

This second flight, which took place from California's Mojave Air and Space Port, lasted about 15 minutes and saw the XB-1 reach an altitude of 10,400 feet (3,170 metres) and a speed of 277 mph (446 km/h).

The flight tested the retracting and extracting of the vehicle's landing gear for the first time. It also saw a new digital stability augmentation system – or roll damper – being demonstrated for improved handling.

In addition, tufting was applied to XB-1’s right wing to observe and evaluate the direction and strength of airflow across the wing, verifying its aerodynamic characteristics.

Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, said: “XB-1 had a fantastic second flight....