Supersonic Air Travel Looks to Be Making a Comeback

Private start-ups and NASA tests are fueling renewed interest in high-speed commercial aviation.

supersonic
(Boom)

Since the retirement of the Concorde SST 15 years ago, supersonic travel has remained an elusive dream for global travelers. But now, thanks to NASA and a group of private, aeronautics startups, interest in high-speed commercial aviation is making a comeback, according to CNN. Boom Technology, one of the major players in the field, has raised $85 million in funding from seed investors and strategic partners like Virgin Atlantic Airways. The Denver-based startup has also found support in Asia. Japan Airlines reportedly invested $10 million in December to pre-order 20 of the company’s planned 55-seat airliners, which are slated for a 2023 debut.

Boom has publicly announced plans to fly its XB-1, a two-seat demonstration aircraft, in 2019 as proof of concept, reports CNN. If all goes according to plan, the company will try to build a fleet of supersonic commercial jets that fly at Mach 2.2, which equates to 1,451 mph, more than double the speed of sound. At that speed, a flight between Los Angeles and Shanghai would only take five to six hours, as compared to 12 hours on a standard commercial airliner.

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