PARIS AIRSHOW: Boom's supersonic project takes step forward

Boom Supersonic today unveiled the completed design of the XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator, the subscale prototype of the Boom supersonic passenger airliner
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When it flies next year, the XB-1 will be the world’s fastest civil aircraft, and it will demonstrate in flight the key technologies for mainstream supersonic travel.

Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, said the dream of delivering a supersonic aircraft that would be affordable was coming closer,
“We now have everything required to build history’s first independently developed supersonic aircraft—the funding, technical design, and manufacturing partners,” he said
The XB-1 design has been refined and optimized since it was unveiled last fall. The completed design has passed a major external design review, verifying that it meets performance and safety standards ahead of component manufacturing and assembly. Among the major changes, the XB-1 now has a third inlet located in the tail. This new inlet design provides greater propulsion system stability, improving aircraft performance and safety. In addition, the XB-1 wing design has evolved with the vertical tail modified to improve performance in crosswind conditions. 
The XB-1 Demonstrator will fly with General Electric engines, Honeywell Avionics, Tencate carbon fiber prepreg, and 3D-printed components from Stratasys. Final assembly and vehicle integration are taking place in Boom’s facility at Centennial Airport, near Denver, Colorado. 
The aircraft which is in its core design will carry a maximum of 55 passengers in business class seating can now have an option for 30 first class seats and 15 business class.
“You don’t need lie-flat seats for three hour flights across the Atlantic,” he said. “But we are planning to fly San Francisco to Sydney and which halves the current flight time to seven hours. We also think that there may be demand for the First-class option from the Gulf airlines.
Boon now has 76 orders from five airlines, although only Virgin Atlantic has been named.
“The new aircraft reservations are backed by tens of millions in non-refundable payments,” Scholl said.
“Airlines are excited for something new and different to offer their passengers—and we’re thrilled that major world airlines share our vision for a future of faster, more accessible supersonic travel,” he said.
First flight of the XB-1 Demonstrator is planned for late 2018. Subsonic flight testing will be conducted near Denver; supersonic test flights will take place near Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. Scholl is hoping for certification by 2022.