Boom Supersonic aims to revive commercial supersonic flight, addressing the economic and operational shortcomings that led to the Concorde's retirement.
Its Overture jet is designed for economic viability by targeting the business-class market with lower fares and leveraging advanced technologies for increased aerodynamic and fuel efficiency compared to its predecessor.
A significant innovation is Overture's "boomless cruise" capability, demonstrated by its XB-1 demonstrator, which allows supersonic flight over land without audible sonic booms, potentially leading to a repeal of the FAA's ban and opening up new transcontinental routes.
Editor’s note: The X-59 successfully broke the sound barrier in June, a few weeks after this feature went to press in May.
Between 1975 and 2003, more than 2.5 million passengers traveled at twice the speed of sound on 14 Concorde airliners produced by the British Aircraft Corporation and Sud Aviation. No paying customer has broken the sound barrier since.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
![Overture is Boom’s planned flagship civil supersonic jet. [Credit: Boom Supersonic]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/FLY0626_3-main-e1784642832620.jpeg)
