Flying supersonic
We believe that life is better lived in person. Our mission at Boom is to make the world dramatically more accessible. Sustainable supersonic travel enables three-day business trips to become one-day hops, long distance relationships to thrive, and humanitarian missions to save more lives.
We’re investing a great deal in improving the passenger experience, developing a cabin that is comfortable, tranquil and productive for travelers. Overture will fly above other commercial aircraft at an altitude of up to 60,000 feet—high enough to see the curvature of the earth below. Flying at supersonic speeds tends to be smoother than subsonic flight because at 60,000 feet, you’re flying above most turbulence.
Ultimately, fares are up to our airline partners. We’ve designed Overture to be profitable for airlines at fares similar to first and business class and across hundreds of transoceanic routes.
Aircraft
Overture is the supersonic airliner that will carry up to 80 passengers. Overture will fly at twice the speed of today’s airliners and is designed to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). We are designing Overture to industry-leading standards of speed, safety, and sustainability.
XB-1 is our demonstrator aircraft. The XB-1 program has given us real-world data to strengthen our software-based approach to airplane design. XB-1 has also informed how we think about safety and helped us build a strong, rigorous safety culture at Boom.
Overture is slated to roll out in 2026, begin test flights in 2027, and is expected to receive type certification by 2029, which is what will allow us to carry passengers.
No. Overture will fly without the use of afterburners, meeting the same strict regulatory noise levels as the latest subsonic airplanes. The airliner will be powered by the Symphony propulsion system. Symphony will be a medium-bypass turbofan engine designed and optimized for environmentally and economically sustainable supersonic flight.
Because XB-1 is a demonstrator aircraft, we will seek an FAA airworthiness certificate in the experimental R&D category.
As a large transport aircraft, Overture will go through the same FAA certification process as all other commercial airplanes flying today. This program includes putting the aircraft through lightning strikes, heavy crosswinds, extreme hot and cold temperatures, and simulated emergencies.
Overture is designed to fly 4,250 nautical miles. At this max range, Overture can fly nonstop on routes like New York to Frankfurt or Tokyo to Seattle. For longer routes, Overture may require a refueling stop.
Our primary mission is to build a commercial passenger aircraft that is profitable for our airline customers to operate. We’re targeting a large unmet market need in transoceanic commercial air travel, which will be accessible to millions of people flying on hundreds of aircraft.
Supersonic economics
Today, there’s both the market demand and the technology to enable mainstream supersonic travel. Technology and materials have advanced enough that we can build faster and more efficient supersonic airplanes while taking care of the planet. Additionally, business and leisure travel has continued to grow, and travelers are willing to pay for speed.
Environmentally, Overture is designed from the ground up and optimized to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). We are optimizing Symphony, the propulsion system for Overture, for sustainable commercial supersonic flight by designing it to run on zero aromatic 100% SAF from day one.
Concorde was a technological marvel when it first flew more than fifty years ago. We’re proud to be building on the accomplishments of talented engineers, who inspire us to make supersonic travel mainstream.
Overture was created to achieve optimal performance while meeting our stringent safety and sustainability requirements. We are leveraging more than fifty years of advancements in aerodynamics, materials, and propulsion to build economically and environmentally viable supersonic airplanes.
Noise levels
When flying over land, Overture can fly significantly faster than subsonic commercial jets—about Mach 0.94, without breaking the sound barrier. This is about 20% faster than subsonic flight.
Globally, there are more than 600 mostly transoceanic routes on which Overture offers a compelling speedup without changes to today’s overland flight regulations.
Overture will have a landing and takeoff noise output similar to today’s subsonic long-haul aircraft. We are committed to creating the best possible experience for our airport communities and we will continue to innovate in this area.
The environment
Boom’s plan to achieve net zero carbon by 2025 and net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040 builds on the significant progress already made by the company. Notably, Boom already achieved carbon neutrality through reduction initiatives and high-quality carbon credits beginning in 2021.
Overture is designed from the ground up and optimized to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). We are optimizing Symphony, the propulsion system for Overture, for sustainable commercial supersonic flight by designing it to run on zero aromatic 100% SAF from day one.
For our fans
Boom remains a privately-held company with financial backing from world-class investors. For more information about investing in Boom, please contact investment@boomsupersonic.com.
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