Following a major external design review, a refined design has been unveiled for the XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator, a subscale prototype of the Boom supersonic passenger airliner. Boom Supersonic said the XB-1 will fly in 2018, and it now has orders for 76 aircraft, from five airlines.
The changes include the addition of a third inlet in the tail, for greater propulsion system stability, and an “evolved” wing design. “We now have everything required to build history’s first independently developed supersonic aircraft – the funding, technical design and manufacturing partners,” said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic.
The XB-1 will be assembled at Centennial Airport, near Denver, Colorado. It will feature General Electric engines, Honeywell avionics, Tencate carbon fiber prepreg and 3D-printed parts from Stratasys.
The XB-1 demonstrator will be 68ft long with a 17ft wingspan. It will seat two crew and is designed to cruise at Mach 2.2.
The Boom passenger airliner will be 170ft long with a 60ft wingspan. It will accommodate two crew, 55 passengers in standard configuration, and up to four flight attendants. Boom is targeting a long-range cruise speed of Mach 2.2.
June 22, 2017
