MOJAVE, Calif. - Boom's XB-1 supersonic jet took its fifth test flight out of Mojave Air & Space Port on Oct 7th, 2024 setting a few new records in the process. The XB-1 is the one-third-scale platform that Boom is using as the foundation for its eventual Overture aircraft that aims to bring back commercialized supersonic passenger flight, Joe Salas writes for New Atlas. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
14 October 2024 - On 7 October, Boom’s chief test pilot, Tristan "Geppetto" Brandenburg, set a new record for the XB-1 aircraft during its fifth flight test. Powered by GE J85-15 turbojet engines, the plane reached an altitude of 17,800 feet and achieved a speed of Mach 0.69 (428 knots, or 492 mph). The test flight lasted 50 minutes, and was the highest altitude and fastest speed reached by the aircraft so far.
The flutter excitation system (FES), which had been repaired and reinstalled, played a key role in the test. The FES is crucial in collecting data at the Mach 0.6 flutter point and will continue to be used as the flight envelope is expanded to transonic speeds.
In addition to evaluating the aircraft’s basic handling at speeds between 225 and 300 knots, the test included a maneuver called a wind-up turn, which subjected the plane to forces of up to 2.78g. This is the maximum g-force expected during the XB-1’s flight tests. "When we get to supersonic flight, XB-1 will have to clear a turn at 2g to line up for the supersonic run—the team is testing the aircraft with an extra margin to increase safety," Boom representatives said in a blog post discussing the test.
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Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
