XB-1 in flight above a layer of cloud, mountains on the horizon

Boomless Cruise

Technology

As demonstrated on XB-1, supersonic flight is possible without an audible sonic boom.

XB-1 flying above a desert at dusk: the waves of its sonic boom curve down, turn back up before the ground and fade into the sky

The Science

In Mach cutoff, the sonic boom refracts in the atmosphere and never reaches the ground.

Exact speeds and altitude vary based on atmospheric conditions.

How it works

XB-1 in level flight above the clouds, seen from its side

Faster over land

  • 50%

    Faster Over Land

  • 2X

    Speed Over Water

The shock cone at Mach 1.1 to 1.2

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much faster will boomless
    flights be?

    When in Boomless Cruise, speeds are 40-50% faster than conventional airliners. A New York to San Francisco flight can be 2 hours faster, and Los Angeles to New York can be less than 3.5 hours. Overture's advanced autopilot continuously optimizes speed based on real-time atmospheric conditions. Boomless Cruise is possible at speeds up to Mach 1.3, with typical speed between Mach 1.1 and 1.2.

  • How does Boomless Cruise work?

    Boomless Cruise leverages Mach cutoff physics, where a sonic boom refracts upward due to temperature and wind gradients affecting the local speed of sound. By flying at sufficiently high altitude at appropriate speed for current atmospheric conditions, Overture ensures its sonic boom never reaches the ground.

  • What design features do XB-1 and Overture incorporate to enable boomless operation?

    Unlike "low boom" designs, Boomless Cruise does not require extensive aircraft shaping. It relies on breaking the sound barrier at high altitude where the boom refracts away. Symphony engines enable efficient supersonic transition above 30,000 feet. An advanced autopilot uses weather conditions and software algorithms to automatically select optimal Boomless Cruise speed.

  • Does this mean Overture is a low boom aircraft?

    No, boomless and low boom are distinct concepts. In Boomless Cruise, Overture's sonic boom does not reach the ground. However, at full Mach 1.7 speed over water, Overture will generate a sonic boom.

  • How does Boomless Cruise affect fuel efficiency?

    Overture is most efficient at high subsonic speeds of Mach 0.94 and supersonic speed of Mach 1.7. Aerodynamic drag increases closer to the sound barrier, causing a modest fuel burn increase at low supersonic speeds. Despite this, Overture has sufficient range for the longest transcontinental routes like Vancouver–Miami.

  • Was Concorde capable of Boomless Cruise?

    Theoretically any supersonic aircraft at the correct speed and altitude can be in Mach cutoff. However, Concorde lacked the engine efficiency to fly in Mach cutoff without afterburners, making range impractical. Additionally, the computing power to calculate appropriate speeds and altitudes was unavailable in Concorde's era.

  • What are example flight times?

    San Francisco to New York takes 3 hours 25 minutes instead of just over 5 hours, saving more than 90 minutes. Passengers can leave Washington, DC at 8:00AM EST and arrive in Los Angeles in 3 hours 40 minutes at 8:40AM PST.

  • Are there any regulatory barriers to flying in Boomless Cruise over the United States?

    Since 1973, FAA regulation 14 CFR 91.817 prohibited all supersonic flight over land regardless of boom reach. On June 6, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order lifting the 52-year ban. The Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act was introduced requesting the FAA revise the ban on civil aircraft exceeding Mach 1 if no sonic boom reaches land.