I know – it sounds crazy. But Colorado startup Boom Supersonic wants to make this a reality with their new Overture jet. Now, companies have tried supersonic travel before (anyone remember the Concorde?), but failed miserably.
Even I was skeptical about Boom. Then I dived into the details – their tech, their timeline, their funding. And I emerged with a new cautious optimism about supersonic’s chances.
See, Boom gets why past efforts crashed and burned. Rather than ignoring the problems, they‘ve crafted targeted solutions to tackle issues like:
- Sky-high costs
- Environmental impacts
- Strict noise regulations
- Safety challenges
And their progress is promising – they‘ve built functioning prototypes, secured major airline orders, and have NASA vets running their test program.
So join me in exploring whether this scrappy upstart could finally launch supersonic’s comeback!
Why We Lost Our Need for Speed
First, a quick history lesson. The legendary Concorde jet offered fancypants 3.5 hour New York to London trips from 1976 to 2003. But the perks came at a STEEP price – we‘re talking $20,000 per ticket in today‘s dollars!
Only the wildly wealthy could afford to fly supersonic. And with a tiny customer base, steep maintenance bills, and rising environmental pressures, the Concorde kept losing insane amounts of money.
Its retirement effectively grounded the civil supersonic industry. For decades, nobody dared revive the technical challenge and financial sinkhole of supersonic passenger travel.
Well, almost nobody…
Here Comes Boom!
Founded in 2014 in Colorado, Boom Supersonic is a brazen aviation startup with a simple mission – make supersonic affordable.
Rather than plow billions into brand new designs, their strategy focuses on updating proven tech to handle faster speeds. The result is Overture – an airliner they claim can zip 65-88 passengers from New York to London in just 3.5 hours!
But can today‘s advancements finally overcome supersonic‘s big barriers?
Well, Boom‘s working hard to tackle the core issues…
Solving Supersonic‘s Sustainability
Past supersonic jets guzzled tons of fuel while rattling windows with ear-splitting sonic booms. Needless to say, not great for profits or planet.
That‘s why Boom‘s placing major emphasis on sustainability. According to the company‘s 2021 Environmental Sustainability Report, the Overture will:
- Fly 100% on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) – made from waste oils/plants
- Meet stringent Stage 5 noise standards
- Produce sonic booms 30+ times quieter than Concorde‘s
How? Innovations like:
- Sleek aerodynamic designs
- Modified gull-wing structure
This reduces drag, fuel burn, and noise while maintaining stability at speed.
Additionally, Boom‘s crafting ultra-efficient custom engines called Symphony. Early ground tests promise big on power, low on emissions and noise.
So by optimizing materials science and propulsion tech, Boom‘s working to eliminate past eco-impact criticisms.
Funding the Supersonic Dream
But slicing travel times in half don‘t come cheap. We‘re talking 10+ billion in development costs here.
Luckily, Boom‘s amassed major investments early. So far they‘ve raised:
- $150+ million in corporate funding rounds
- $10+ million government contract with DARPA
- Hundreds of millions from future ticket sales
See, Boom‘s already inked deals with big airlines – United Airlines for $3 billion worth of tickets and Japan Airlines for $10 billion.
This early order flow is similar to how Boeing and Airbus launch programs. It provides operational funding as they work towards their 2025 Overture rollout target.
Oh and about that rollout target…is it realistic?
Suppose They Build It – Will It Fly On Time?
Let‘s examine Boom‘s published Overture development roadmap:
- 2025: Overture Production Begins
- 2026: Overture First Flight
- 2029: Entry into Commercial Service
Now, the experts I‘ve spoken to agree – this is an extremely ambitious timeline given the certification and production ramp needed.
Delays plagued past supersonic prototypes like Aerion‘s AS2. It never even finished engines before the whole firm collapsed in 2021.
And yet, Boom‘s hitting key early milestones like first wind tunnel tests for Symphony‘s engines and cabin architecture finalization.
via GIPHY
Not to mention their XB-1 demonstrator is completing ground trials with engine runs. This 1⁄3 sized prototype proves out critical systems and designs planned for Overture.
So there could be enough margin to absorb obstacles and emerge on schedule if funding holds steady. But make no mistake – it‘ll be nail-bitingly close.
Boom still needs billions more to finish Overture manufacturing facilities and ramp component production.
Yet supplier deals with Rolls-Royce, access to proven legacy systems, and financing momentum suggest they very well may pull this off.
And if so, the consumer implications will be huge.
5-Hour London Trips? Sign Me Up!
Just imagine – grabbing breakfast in LA then enjoying afternoon tea in London!
When I crunched the numbers, some 64+ million passengers flew direct between North America and Europe in 2019 per Boeing‘s market outlook.
Supersonic tickets would allow business travelers to essentially "day trip" between New York and London. That could massively boost deal flow and spark frustration with 8+ hour sluggish flights.
And for leisure, those European vacations would suddenly feel much closer for my fellow West Coasters! Assuming costs eventually decline, more consumers may opt for luxe supersonic getaways over Hawaii.
Overall, speed loyalists could force competing airlines into their own supersonic investments.
Yet for mainstream adoption, supersonic must nail affordability. Boom promises to contain costs via optimized tech. But can they prevent another budget-busting Concorde?
Verdict: This Jet‘s Got Potential!
In the world of supersonic flight, where so many ventures crash and burn, Boom stands out.
Their strategy seems laser focused on past pitfalls – noise, emissions, safety, economics. Exciting advances in materials and propulsion translate proven concepts to cutting-edge efficiency.
Delays loom inevitable given the heavy certification mountain and production complexity still ahead.
But early wins plus billions in funding instill hope. Maybe, just maybe, this feisty upstart can finally realize our need for speed.
So keep eyes peeled to the skies in 2026! With testing underway, we‘ll soon know if Boom‘s bound for greatness or doomed to bust.
Either way, the ride will be one heck of a thrill!
Let me know what else you’d like explored regarding supersonic’s imminent comeback! This aviation geek loves to chat.
