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“The experience we affordable than in the past. supersonic flight – the
have gained in reach- sonic boom,” said John
ing this milestone Nasa’s Quesst Clark, vice president
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works
will be invaluable is working with Nasa’s Quesst and general man-
to Boom’s revival of Mission and the two, early this ager, Lockheed Martin
supersonic travel,” said year, formally unveiled the X-59, Skunk Works.
a unique experimental aircraft
Shoemaker. designed to silence the sonic “After the aircraft is validated in
boom. initial flight tests, it will move into
Two decades after Concorde’s
retirement, the first flight of XB-1 The X-59 will be used to collect the acoustic testing phase. This
marks the return of a civil super- community response data on phase will include flights over
sonic aircraft to the skies and the acceptability of a quiet sonic populated areas to provide U.S.
paves the way for the revival of boom generated by the unique and international regulators with
mainstream supersonic travel. design of the aircraft. The data statistically valid data required
to help approve new rules that
The XB-1 program provides will help Nasa provide regula- could allow quiet commercial
tors with the information needed
the foundation for the design supersonic flight over land. This
and development of Overture, to establish an acceptable would cut commercial flight
commercial supersonic noise
while establishing a safety-first times to half of what they are
culture in engineering and standard to lift the ban on com- today, transforming travel for
mercial supersonic travel over
manufacturing. people around the world,” Clark
land. added.
Meanwhile, Overture continues
to advance toward production, “The X-59 will com-
with a growing global network Supersonic AirForce One
of Tier 1 suppliers and an order plete ground tests Yet another U.S. company,
book including 130 orders including engine-run Exosonic, is setting the standard
and pre-orders from American and taxi tests before for faster flight with a low boom
Airlines, United Airlines, and 5000 mmi range, 70 passenger
Japan Airlines. its next major mile- supersonic airliner. Exosonic is
Overture will carry 64-80 pas- stone, first flight, working with regulatory bodies
to support the amendment of
sengers at Mach 1.7, about later this year. We the ban on overland supersonic
twice the speed of today’s sub- are also solving one flight. Instead of a blanket ban
sonic airliners.
of the most per- on supersonic flight, Exosonic
Optimized for speed, safety, sistent challenges of supports a sound limit that will
and sustainability, Overture is allow supersonic flight that
designed to run on up to 100 per
cent sustainable aviation fuel
(SAF).
More Booms in the Sky
Besides Boom, Nasa’s X-59
Quesst (Quiet SuperSonic
Technology) mission, and other
private companies such as Spike
and Exosonic are also working
towards reviving the excitement
for supersonic travel that will
be quieter, greener, and more
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