At the Farnborough International Airshow earlier this month, Boom Supersonic showed a refined design of its in-development supersonic Overture aircraft. It is being designed to carry 65 to 80 passengers at twice the speed of today’s airliners and run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

“Aviation has not seen a giant leap in decades,” said Boom Founder and CEO Blake Scholl. “Overture is revolutionary in its design, and it will fundamentally change how we think about distance. With more than 600 routes across the globe, Overture will make the world dramatically more accessible for tens of millions of passengers.”

The Overture is 201 ft (61.3 m) long, with a 106-ft (32.3-m) wingspan and 36-ft (11.0-m) height. The interior is 79 ft (24 m) long and up to 6.5 ft (2.0 m) high in the aisle. Beyond flying on 100% SAF, Boom says that its new airliner is being developed to be net zero carbon, with sustainability woven into its design, production, flight, and end-of-life recycling.

So far, the economically and environmentally sustainable supersonic airliner is the culmination of 26 million core hours of simulated software designs, five wind tunnel tests, and the evaluation of 51 full design iterations. With the updated configuration, the aircraft combines several engineering innovations in aerodynamics, noise reduction, and overall performance.

 

Key updates and features

Propulsion is provided by four (up from two) wing-mounted engines. The medium-bypass 100% SAF-compatible turbofans enable the Overture to cruise at Mach 1.7 supersonic speed over water and Mach 0.94 subsonic speed over land. Boom says that the four-engine design reduces noise while also decreasing costs for airline operators. The maximum range is 4250 nmi (7870 km) with a full payload.

On take-off, the airliner will use the world’s first automated noise reduction system. It will fly without afterburners, meeting the same strict regulatory noise levels as the latest subsonic airplanes. These noise reduction efforts will deliver a quieter experience both for passengers and airport communities. It adheres to airport community noise rules spelled out by ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) Chapter 14 and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Stage 5.

According to the area-rule principle, Overture’s fuselage has a larger diameter in front and a smaller one toward the rear, the design technique minimizing drag and maximizing fuel efficiency at supersonic speeds. The aircraft’s wings are sculpted more to enhance supersonic performance as well as improve subsonic and transonic handling, but the shape ensures safety and stability at all speeds.

Carbon composite materials will make up most of the build—specifically, the fuselage, wing, and vertical and horizontal stabilizers—for a lighter, stronger, and more thermally stable construction than traditional metal. They can also be manufactured with highly complex curvature, aiding aerodynamic efficiency.

Flight controls are by four-time redundant digital fly-by-wire on 2 LRUs (line replaceable units). The gull wings have digital leading- and trailing-edge flap control.

 

Help from partners

At the Farnborough Airshow, Boom announced a partnering agreement with Northrop Grumman to develop special mission Overture variants for the U.S. Government and its allies.

“Time is a strategic advantage in high consequence scenarios, from emergency evacuations to disaster response,” said Scholl. “This collaboration between Boom and Northrop Grumman unlocks the potential for Overture to provide the U.S. and our allies with an unmatched high-speed capability when and where it’s most needed.”

The two companies will pursue new use cases to support government and military operations that require rapid response. These include quick-reaction surveillance and reconnaissance, command and control, as well as mobility and logistics missions such as emergency medical and troop transport.

“Pairing Northrop Grumman’s airborne defense systems integration expertise with Boom’s state-of-the-art Overture supersonic aircraft makes perfect sense,” said Tom Jones, President of Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems. “Together we can ensure military variants of Overture are tailored for missions where advanced system capabilities and speed are critical.”

Adding to Northrop Grumman and previously announced Rolls-Royce (propulsion), AWS (high-performance computing), and Prometheus Fuels (SAF), the company continues to build the supply chain for Overture, announcing at Farnborough new and expanded relationships with major suppliers Collins Aerospace, Eaton, and Safran Landing Systems.

Collins Aerospace will assist Boom with aerodynamic analysis, evaluation of the Ice Protection System, and assess air-data-system architectures that meet Overture’s field performance and range requirements. This represents an expanded collaboration with Collins to develop key components for Overture, said Kathy Savitt, Boom’s President.

The expanded joint effort with Collins builds upon several years of collaboration on Overture aimed at improving propulsion system performance and minimizing aircraft noise. The two have worked together to develop inlet, nozzle, and exhaust system technologies to facilitate the net-zero carbon operation of the aircraft.

“Collins is capitalizing on decades of experience to provide key technologies for Overture that will play an integral role in making sustainable, supersonic flight a reality for passengers,” said Colin Mahoney, President, Customer & Account Management for Collins Aerospace.

Boom and Eaton are developing the Overture fuel distribution, measurement, and inerting systems. Eaton will contribute domain expertise on system analysis including engine feed rates, refuel and jettison, venting, basic and emergency center of gravity control, and pump performance.

“Eaton’s deep expertise in fuel systems design will advance Overture’s speed, safety, and sustainability,” said Savitt. “This agreement with Eaton is another significant component in Boom’s network of Tier One suppliers supporting the production launch of Overture in 2024.”

“Eaton has its eyes on the future of aviation when it comes to efficiency and aircraft safety,” said Nanda Kumar, President of Eaton’s Aerospace Group.

Safran Landing Systems is becoming a key supplier for the Overture, bringing more than a century of aircraft equipment design and manufacturing expertise with the first system co-developed being landing systems.

“It is a unique opportunity to provide our expertise for a product that we believe has the ability to completely transform passenger air travel,” said Cedric Goubet, CEO of Safran Landing Systems.

 

Testing and manufacturing

Boom is quickly building the infrastructure to bring the Overture to market.

It will begin outfitting The Iron Bird, a new 70,000-ft² (6500-m²) test facility in Centennial, CO, to house its first full-scale Overture test model and flight deck simulators. The test model, also called an iron bird, will be used for integrating flight hardware, software, and systems.

Earlier this year, Boom announced its selection of the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, NC, as the site of its first full-scale manufacturing facility. The 400,000-ft² (37,200-m²) Overture Superfactory—including the final assembly line, test facility, and customer delivery center on a 65-acre (26-ha) campus—is expected to begin production in 2024.

The first Overture aircraft is on track to roll out in 2025, fly in 2026, and carry its first passengers by 2029. Overture’s order book, including purchases and options from United Airlines and Japan Airlines, stands at 70 aircraft.