Imagine effortlessly soaring miles above the earth as sweeping desert vistas and calming ocean expanses rush beneath you in a blur. What should be a grueling multi-film tedium condenses into an exhilarating picture window voyage. Before you know it, the City of Angels fades to the City of Light. This dreamlike voyage from the Pacific to the Atlantic at 1.7 times the speed of sound could emerge as a regular 21st century travel option.
That transformative vision drives Boom Supersonic. Founded in 2014 by Blake Scholl, the Colorado-based startup has raised $150 million to develop Overture – a next generation supersonic airliner promising LA to Paris in a mere 360 minutes by 2029. Bold? Absolutely. Yet Boom‘s frightfully clever team just might pull off practical, sustainable supersonic flight. This is their riveting story.
Taming the Sonic Boom…Again
First, some aviation history. Little known fact – today‘s commercial airliners typically cruise around 85% the speed of sound. So called "subsonic flight" became the norm following the tragic demise of the pioneering Concorde airliner.
The Rise and Fall of the Concorde Supersonic Jet
Flown by British Airways and Air France for 27 years, the iconic delta-winged Concorde hit Mach 2 (1,350 mph), cutting transatlantic crossings to under 3 hours. Quite glamorous, yet extremely costly to operate. Then in 2000, an Air France Concorde crashed shortly after takeoff in Paris, killing all aboard.
The deadly accident combined with rising maintenance expenses soon forced the beloved Concorde‘s premature 2003 retirement. However the aging jet‘s underlying noisy, ravenous engines retained some culpability for its economic challenges. Advances in aerospace tech could address these shortfalls.
Enter baby-faced engineer Blake Scholl. Fascinated since childhood by the Concorde, Scholl yearned to give supersonic travel a second chance. He discerned that condensing hours of droning boredom above oceans for millions more travelers would make sound business sense.
Can Supersonic Transport Be Viable This Time?
Following years of analysis while running his own app software firm, Scholl took the plunge. He founded Boom Supersonic in 2014 at age 26, vowing sustainable supersonic flight. Skeptics initially mocked Scholl‘s lofty aspiration to build a spiritual "Son of Concorde" successor. How misguided they were.
In seven whirlwind years, Boom has secured over $150 million in capital from major airlines and aerospace titans. Headlined by Japan Airlines‘ $10 million partnership, this formidable stable now co-designing Boom‘s flagship Overture airliner emphasizes serious industry buy-in.
So can Scholl‘s crew craft an economically feasible, ecologically responsible successor to the vanished Concorde? Overture‘s breakneck development pace and intriguing planned capabilities make a resounding case. Now delve deeper on how.
Overture‘s Target Spec – Mach 1.7 Over Water
Subsonic aircraft plod along at 550 mph While the Concorde maxed out at Mach 2.2 (1,350 mph), drastically heating airframe surfaces. Boom smartly targets a Goldilocks "just right" cruising speed for Overture – Mach 1.7, or 1,300 mph. Quick enough to slash travel times while optimal for cost and passenger comfort.
Efficiency Reimagined – The Overture by the Numbers
| Cruising Speed | Mach 1.7 (1,300 mph) |
| Max Seating | 88 Passengers |
| Range | 4,250 Nautical Miles |
| Wingspan | 60 Feet |
| Length | 201 Feet |
| Powertrain | 4 Custom Supersonic Jet Engines |
Against the Concorde, Overture sports a wider fuselage for passenger comfort along with almost 35% more range. Such specs promise gracious LA to Paris trips under 6 hours if realized.
But what hidden fluid dynamics, construction techniques, and propulsive systems manifest this impressive blueprint? Strap yourself in for an exclusive inside tour.
Slick Aerodynamic Shaping
Maintaining stability and minimizing drag during supersonic flight mandates an exceptionally slick, swooped airframe….
