Boom completes first supersonic engine core, aims to revive passenger supersonic travel
Boom has finished assembling Symphony, the first modern supersonic engine core, and plans to power its test jet next month.
Blake Scholl, a former Amazon-era software engineer, founded Boom in 2014 after self-studying aerospace engineering. This month the firm completed Symphony, the first modern turbofan designed for passenger supersonic flight, marking the first large-scale supersonic core built since Rolls-Royce's Olympus 593. Unlike Concorde, Symphony lacks afterburners and uses altitude-adjusted speeds to minimize ground-level sonic booms.
Boom's test aircraft, the XB-1, has already demonstrated boom-free flights in six trials. Airlines including United, American Airlines and Japan Airlines have placed orders for the upcoming Overture jet, which will cruise at Mach 1.7 over oceans. To fund development, Boom will first operate the engine in AI data centres, creating extensive test data and generating cash flow before carrying passengers.
Why it matters
Reviving supersonic passenger flights could cut transatlantic travel time and reshape aviation economics.
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