Supersonic travel is a step closer as Boom flies demonstrator jet above Mach 1
Boom Supersonic carried out its first faster-than-sound flight Tuesday, reaching a remarkable milestone as it seeks to bring commercial supersonic flight back to the skies.
The company's XB-1 demonstrator jet reached speeds of Mach 1.122 during a test flight above the Mojave Desert in California shortly after 8 a.m., its first supersonic flight after about a dozen test flights carried out since last March.
It was a major accomplishment for Boom and marked the first time that a private company had built a supersonic jet without government support or involvement. It also represented a step closer to Boom's ultimate goal of operating the first commercial supersonic flight since the Concorde was retired in 2003.
"A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars," said Boom's founder and CEO, Blake Scholl. "Our ultimate goal is to bring the benefits of supersonic flight to everyone."
Despite the landmark, however, commercial supersonic flight remains years away, and Boom's success is anything but certain.
While the XB-1 demonstrator is a clean-sheet — or entirely new — design by Boom, it's roughly the size of a small fighter jet and has just one seat. It's meant to test various systems that Boom hopes will translate to its full-size prototype.
That aircraft, dubbed the Overture, will be far more difficult to create. In order to be commercially viable, Overture, which is designed to seat roughly 60 to 80 passengers, will need to be fuel- and cost-efficient enough for the airline to operate it profitably while selling tickets at a price that passengers are willing to pay.
And although supersonic travel sounds appealing, the actual use case could be more limited. Faster-than-sound travel is prohibited over populated land, due to the sonic boom it causes, and Overture would not have the range to make it across the Pacific Ocean without refueling — that stop would significantly cut into the time advantage of supersonic flying. That leaves transatlantic travel as the most practical market.
Boom also does not have an engine prototype yet. The company was unable to find an existing engine on the market that could work, nor an engine manufacturer that was willing to design one, and will instead build a new engine in-house. That engine, which Boom calls Symphony, is still in the production phase, and until it's completed, there's no easy path for Boom to actually cross the finish line.
It remains unclear whether Boom can build a prototype, begin production and get the jet certified without running out of investor money. Boom, meanwhile, has argued that modern technology and manufacturing can allow it to succeed where the Concorde, which was notoriously expensive to operate, did not.
Still, even though the company has faced doubts for years, it's managed to sign numerous major suppliers, build a talented engineering staff and secure 130 orders from airlines, including American Airlines and United Airlines.
With Tuesday's test flight, Boom appears to at least be one step closer to the ultimate goal of supersonic commercial travel.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.