The airplane that wants to revive supersonic travel
Blake Scholl, the founder and chief executive of Boom Supersonic, stated at the Paris Air Show that his company expects a prototype of its passenger airplane to make its first demonstration supersonic flight by the end of 2018, BBC reports.
Blake Scholl said that the XB-1 demonstration airplane had successfully passed a performance and safety review, a critical step before manufacturing the aircraft.
According to Boom Supersonic, 76 airplanes were already ordered by five airlines that are yet to be announced, with the company claiming that a trip from London to Paris will cost roughly the same as a business class ticket, which is around $5,000.
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The aircraft obviously drew comparisons to former supersonic jet Concorde. Boom Supersonic claims that it wants its aircrafts to be quieter and more fuel-efficient than the British/French pioneer, as well as being more affordable for travellers. “Being a private company that has to raise investment means we have to have a business case that is profitable for airlines and affordable for customers,” Blake Scholl concluded.
One of the most avid supporters of the project is Sir Richard Branson, founder at Virgin, who said that he will buy the first 10 airplanes, as well as offer logistic and manufacturing support.
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