Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Aerospace industry |
Founded | 2014 Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
Founders | Blake Scholl Joe Wilding Josh Krall |
Headquarters | Centennial Airport, Dove Valley, Colorado |
Key people | |
Products | Supersonic aircraft design |
Number of employees | 150 [1] |
Website |
boomsupersonic |
Boom Technology, Inc. ( trade name Boom Supersonic) is an American company designing a supersonic airliner named the Boom Overture. [2] The company is also developing a one-third-scale demonstrator: the Boom XB-1 Baby Boom. [3]
The company was founded in Denver in 2014. [4] It participated in a Y Combinator startup incubation program in early 2016, and has been funded by Y Combinator, Sam Altman, Seraph Group, Eight Partners, and others. [5]
In March 2017, $33 million were invested by several venture funds: Continuity Fund, RRE Ventures, Palm Drive Ventures, 8VC and Caffeinated Capital. [6] Boom secured $41 million of total financing by April 2017. [7] In December 2017, Japan Airlines invested $10 million, raising the company capital to $51 million: enough to build the XB-1 “Baby Boom” demonstrator and complete its testing, and to start early design work on the 55-seat airliner. [6] In January 2019, Boom raised a further $100 million, bringing the total to $151 million, then planning the demonstrator first flight for later in 2019. [8] [9]
In January 2022, the company announced plans to build a 400,000 square feet (37,161 m2) manufacturing facility on a 65 acres (263,046 m2) site at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina. [10]
In November 2023, a representative of the NEOM Investment Fund announced their investment in Boom at an undisclosed amount. [11] This follows an announcement by Boom of a "Strategic Investment" in the company from the fund. [12]
The Boom XB-1 "Baby Boom" is a one-third-scale supersonic demonstrator, designed to maintain Mach 2.2, with over 1,000 nautical miles [nmi] (1,900 km; 1,200 mi) of range, and powered by three General Electric J85-15 engines with 4,300 pounds-force [lbf] (19 kN) of thrust. [13] It was rolled out in October 2020. [14] It was expected to be flight tested in 2022, [15] but delays pushed the first flight to March 22, 2024. [16]
The Boom Overture is a proposed Mach 1.7 (1,000 kn; 1,800 km/h; 1,100 mph), 65- to 88-passenger supersonic transport with a planned 4,250 nmi (7,870 km; 4,890 mi) of range. [17] With 500 viable routes, Boom suggests there could be a market for 1,000 supersonic airliners with business class fares. [7] It had gathered 76 commitments by December 2017. [6] It decided to use the delta wing configuration of Concorde [18] and make use of composite materials. [6] It is to be powered by three 15,000–20,000 lbf (67–89 kN) dry turbofan engines. [6]
In January 2021, Boom announced plans to begin Overture test flights in 2026 [19] and Boom CEO Blake Scholl "estimates that flights on Overture will be available in 2030." [20]
United Airlines announced in June 2021 that it had signed a deal to purchase 15 Boom Overture aircraft, with an option to buy 35 more. [21] [22] American Airlines announced in August 2022 had agreed to purchase 20 Boom Overture aircraft. [23]
In December 2022, Boom announced the Symphony, a new propulsion system to be designed for the Overture. Boom will work with three companies to develop Symphony: Florida Turbine Technologies for engine design, GE Additive for additive technology design consulting, and StandardAero for maintenance. [24]
Boom Supersonic is participating in a NASA-led study to develop concept designs and technology roadmaps for a Mach 4 airliner. Boom is part of a team led by Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems, alongside Blue Ridge Research and Consulting and Rolls-Royce North American Technologies. [25]
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