Boom Supersonic, a Colorado-based aerospace company, has been making waves in their endeavor to build the next generation of supersonic aircraft. Earlier this year in January, when our XB-1 demonstrator aircraft flew, it made history. It went on to become the first privately developed civil aircraft to exceed the sound barrier over land. This remarkable accomplishment provides a foundation for future breakthroughs in supersonic travel. The recent introduction of the bipartisan Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act will bring even more positive developments to strengthen these trends.
Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), Aviation Subcommittee Chair Troy Nehls (R-TX), and Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS) have introduced a new bipartisan bill. This legislation would remove the FAA’s 52-year-old prohibition on supersonic flight over U.S. soil. For example, the recently proposed “Boom” bill would pave the way for supersonic travel. It lays out one important requirement that no audible sonic boom can be heard on the ground, addressing perhaps the most significant drawback to supersonic flight.
For those unfamiliar, Boom Supersonic has been working to build the future of supersonic travel with billions in investments and a Denver-based infrastructure. The company first announced its new Greensboro, North Carolina-based supersonic airline factory about a year ago. This facility will play a critical role in the future development of Boom’s Overture supersonic airline. It has the potential to transform air travel as we know it.
Just last year, Boom Supersonic received more than $100 million in state incentives to power its ambitious plans. This assistance is paired with a commitment to build more than 1,700 jobs by 2030. North Carolina is ready to take the next step in growing its aerospace industry. These investments are designed to stimulate the local economy by attracting high-tech jobs.
So, picture this—all along the trail. Boom Supersonic announced a new partnership with StandardAero, an internationally-recognized aerospace leader, to manufacture the engine for their disruptive Overture supersonic airline. This engine production is going on in San Antonio, Texas, deepening Texas’s role in the company’s operations. The new partnership gives a glimpse at increasing bipartisan interest in supersonic technology in each state.
The Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act that has been recently introduced. Boom Supersonic is primed to take the baton and usher in a whole new era of air travel. If this legislation passage is successful, it would put into motion the revival of commercial supersonic flights. This would re-energize an industry that has been mostly dormant since the retirement of the Concorde.
