Colorado-based Boom Supersonic has successfully completed the eighth test flight of its supersonic Colorado XB-1 demonstrator, with the aim of achieving Mach 1 by the end of the year.
The XB-1 demonstrator’s test programme began in March 2024, when it took to the skies for the first time.
The company says that the flight test programme, consisting of a series of 10 supersonic flights, is to confirm the aircraft’s performance and handling qualities before it reaches supersonic speeds.
The company recently completed its eighth test flight on its path to achieving Mach 1 by the end of the year. Mach 1, the speed of sound, is around 767 miles per hour (1,234 km/h).
This eighth flight, which took place from California’s Mojave Air and Space Port, lasted about 54 minutes and saw the XB-1 reach an altitude of 25,040 feet and a top speed of Mach 0.82.
Designing a plane that is both very stable and very fast is a challenge, especially for high-speed aircraft like XB-1.
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