Boom Supersonic has announced new partners to help build its ultra-speedy jet that will connect New York and Paris in less than 4 hours — see Overture

20.06.2023 23:51

Boom Supersonic has partnered with Leonardo, Aernnova, and Aciturri to help build its highly anticipated Overture, it announced Tuesday.

Boom Supersonic's Overture flying above clouds. — Boom Supersonic

Boom Supersonic has announced new partners from Spain and Italy to help build its highly anticipated Overture aircraft.
CEO Blake Scholl contrasted its international partners with the competition between Concorde and others in the 1950s.
Last year, Boom showed its new design which included new fuselage and gull wing configurations.

Boom Supersonic announced new partners who'll help build its highly anticipated ultra-fast Overture jet, at the Paris Air Show on Tuesday.

Boom CEO Blake Scholl stands at a podium in a Paris Air Show auditorium, with the overture jet displayed behind him. — Pete Syme/Insider

Spanish company Aerrnova will help produce the Overture's wing, described by CEO Blake Scholl as an "advanced, all-composite gull wing."

Blake Scholl of Boom Supersonic and the Aernnova SVP — Pete Syme/ Insider

Leonardo, the Italian company also known for its defense work, will work on the Overture's fuselage.

Pete Syme/Insider

And the tail partner is Aciturri, another Spanish company.

Boom CEO Blake Scholl and the Aciturri rep hold an Overture model on stage at Paris Air Show — Pete Syme/Insider

"The last time the world attempted supersonic, it was a fierce competition between countries," Scholl added. "But the team coming together with a vision of making the planet more accessible and making the earth a smaller place I find very pointedly to be a global team."

Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl speaks at a podium at the Paris Air Show, while a map of its partners is displayed — Pete Syme/Insider

Boom Supersonic previously unveiled updates to the Overture's design at last year's Farnborough Air Show in England...

… bringing the startup one step closer to producing the "world's fastest airliner."

Boom Supersonic takeoff.
Boom Supersonic

Source: Boom Supersonic

The Overture was already designed to fly incredibly fast. But to create a more efficient and quiet aircraft, Boom decreased the Overture's passenger capacity, increased its number of engines, and reconfigured the fuselage and gull wings.

Boom Supersonic's Overture in a dark building. — Boom Supersonic

The high-speed aircraft will now have four smaller wing-mounted engines, which will decrease the operational costs and allow it to fly quieter, according to the startup.

An overhead view of Boom Supersonic's Overture. — Boom Supersonic

These engines will enable the Overture to soar at Mach 1.7 — or about 1,300 miles per hour — over water, faster than the speed of sound.

Boom Supersonic's Overture flying among clouds. — Boom Supersonic

Source: Insider

But because of loud sonic booms, supersonic aircraft legally can't fly at ultra high speeds over land.

Boom Supersonic Japan Airlines. — Boom Supersonic

Source: FAA

As a result, the Overture will only fly at Mach 0.97 as it crosses land.

Like the engine count, the design for the fuselage and gull wings has changed from previous iterations.

The fuselage will now be wider towards the front of the plane, minimizing drag and improving fuel efficiency …

Boom Supersonic's Overture by a hangar. — Boom Supersonic

Source: Boom Supersonic

… while the new gull wings will decrease engine strain and increase safety as the aircraft flies at lower speeds, according to the startup.

Boom Supersonic's Overture on a runway. — Boom Supersonic

And because most of the Overture will be built using carbon fiber composites, the aircraft will be lighter and therefore more fuel efficient.

Source: Boom Supersonic

The company has been testing a small Overture prototype — the Baby Boom — out of Colorado.

Boom Supersonic engine testing.
Boom Supersonic

So far, the net-zero carbon aircraft has undergone five wind tunnel tests performed in multiple locations. These tests have helped Boom improve the Overtures' performance, control, and fuel efficiency, a spokesperson told Insider.

Boom Supersonic on bridge.
Boom Supersonic

As of now, the startup only has three customers: United, American, and Japan Airlines. Scholl said on Tuesday that Boom had received 130 orders and pre-orders.

Source: Insider

Production of a full-scale prototype will begin in 2024 in preparation for the aircraft's rollout in 2025.

Boom Supersonic Overture factory.
Boom Supersonic

Boom Supersonic has also partnered with Northrop Grumman to build Overture iterations for government and military use.

In 2026, Boom will begin flight tests in Mojave, California, a spokesperson said. By 2029, the 65 to 80-passenger Overture could begin passenger service.

Boom Overture interior. — Boom Supersonic

When in service, the ultra-fast aircraft could be able to bring passengers from Newark Liberty International Airport to London in 3.5 hours or to Frankfurt, Germany in four hours.