Originally Posted by
ORAC
https://theaviationist.com/2024/03/2...he-first-time/
Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 Demonstrator Flies For The First Time
The XB-1 supersonic aircraft demonstrator of Boom Supersonic flew for the first time on March 2022, 2024, from the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California.
XB-1, according to the company, is the world’s first independently developed supersonic jet and leverages state-of-the-art technologies to enable efficient supersonic flight including carbon fiber composites, advanced avionics, digitally-optimized aerodynamics, and an advanced supersonic propulsion system….
The aircraft was flown by Chief Test Pilot Bill “Doc” Shoemaker, while Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg flew the T-38 chase aircraft which monitored XB-1 in the air, observing how the aircraft was handling and verifying its flight data and airworthiness. Both pilots maintain flight proficiency in T-38 and F-5 aircraft, which they use to develop chase procedures and practice flight test techniques that will be used in XB-1, but they have also flown the F-104 as both share many flight characteristics.…
According to Boom Supersonic’s press statement, XB-1 met all of its test objectives, including safely and successfully achieving an altitude of 7,120 feet and speeds up to 238 knots (273 mph). While XB-1 was in the air, the team performed an initial assessment of the aircraft’s handling qualities, including airspeed checks with the T-38 chase aircraft, and assessing the aircraft’s stability in the landing attitude (at a high angle of attack).
Have they got a supersonic engine yet? Olympus was the only one ever developed for sustained supersonic flight including twice in one day and no one else wants to spend £billions designing another one for a tiny market.
Until they have, this is just an Avro 707 test aircraft with possibly an ex military engine.