2024 is shaping up to be a very important year for Boom Supersonic, which is on a mission to revive supersonic commercial air travel. A few months ago, the American company building the world’s fastest airliner, Overture, announced the successful flight of the XB-1 technology demonstrator aircraft, which marks a crucial step towards developing Overture. Now, Boom Supersonic has given an update on the construction of its “Superfactory” in North Carolina, where all its supersonic jets will be produced in the future. In 2022, the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, was announced as the home of the Overture Superfactory. Work began on the site in January 2023, and the company offered a detailed look at the progress of the facility’s construction during the 2023 Paris Air Show. According to the latest pictures released by Boom on its official blog, the Overture Superfactory is steadily moving toward its construction completion before the end of this year.
Boom Supersonic says it is building the campus in sections. In the first phase, the focus is on the final assembly line, which is roughly 150,000 square feet with an additional 24,000 square feet of office space. “Boom is on the leading edge of returning supersonic commercial passenger service. And such innovative, imaginative aerospace companies that will define the next century of aviation are precisely the type of partner we want on the airport,” said Kevin Baker, Executive Director of Piedmont Triad International Airport.
During the 2023 Paris Air Show, Blake Scholl, Boom founder and CEO, said the first assembly line at the Superfactory is designed to produce up to 33 aircraft per year. He added that the company plans to build a second assembly line on the same campus, doubling the production to 66 jets each year.
Last year in September, the company also celebrated a construction milestone by “topping out” the Overture Superfactory when the final structural beam was raised into place, completing the building’s frame. “We continue to be pleased with the progress on the Overture Superfactory, our final assembly line for Overture. This milestone is a testament to the hard work of the numerous trade teams who are building the Superfactory and marks an important step forward in building a sustainable supersonic future in the Piedmont Triad, ” Chris Taylor, vice president of manufacturing at Boom Supersonic, had said back then.
Since then, a lot of progress has been made in the construction of the first supersonic airliner factory in the United States, including lighting installation, office finishing, and signage application to the building exterior. On its blog, Boom says the completion of the Superfactory will be “commemorated by a ribbon-cutting event later this Spring.” The inaugural flight of XB-1 also marks a major milestone for the company. Two decades after Concorde’s retirement, the first flight of the technology demonstrator aircraft paves the way for the revival of supersonic travel. It’s a testbed for important technologies that Overture will use, including carbon fiber composites, advanced avionics, digitally-optimized aerodynamics, and an advanced supersonic propulsion system.
Boom Overture – the world’s fastest airliner
The Boom Overture is a supersonic commercial aircraft developed by Boom Supersonic. It is designed to revolutionize air travel with a cruising speed of Mach 1.7, more than twice the speed of current commercial aircraft. This could slash the journey time between Miami and London from nine hours to just five. Scheduled for its first flight in 2026 and commercial service by 2029, the Overture features advanced technologies such as composite aerostructures and gull wings for improved aerodynamic efficiency.
It is designed to operate on 100% sustainable aviation fuel, emphasizing environmental sustainability. With a range of 4,250 nautical miles and the capacity to carry 64-80 passengers, the Overture aims to offer faster, more efficient, and environmentally friendly travel options. The jet will be powered by four powerful wing-mounted engines, each fed by a highly efficient, streamline-traced, axisymmetric inlet. Using four engines will also significantly decrease noise, helping in quieter operations.
Boom Supersonic’s Overture order book includes 130 aircraft, including commitments from American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines. Boom is also partnering with Northrop Grumman for defense applications. Key suppliers and partners for the Overture program include Aernnova, Aciturri, Collins Aerospace, Eaton, Honeywell, Latecoere, Leonardo, Safran Landing Systems, and the United States Air Force.
