Boom Aerospace’s Overture supersonic airliner remains on schedule for FAA certification by the end of this decade, founder and CEO Blake Scholl maintained on Tuesday at the 2023 Paris Airshow. As proof of progress, he announced aerostructures suppliers for Overture 1, the first of its commercial models, and provided an update on the airplane’s homegrown Symphony engine program, including the naming of a production partner.
The company said it recently signed agreements with Aernnova for Overture’s wings, Leonardo for the fuselage and wing box, and Aciturri for the empennage. The structures are fully composite. Previously revealed suppliers include Safran Landing Systems, Eaton, Collins Aerospace, FlightSafety International, Florida Turbine Technologies (FTT), GE Additive, and StandardAero.
It also shared more details on Symphony’s engine architecture and specifications at the airshow, along with unveiling a 3D-printed one-third-scale model. According to Scholl, the medium-bypass engine “leverages certified technology” to lower risk. Optimized for supersonic flight, the engine will consist of already-certified materials and use a conventional core. What’s new is the engine intake and nozzles, he said.
Boom also expanded its partnership with FTT to develop the initial production engines for ground test, flight test, and certification. It also has identified Jupiter, Florida, as the base for initial production. Scholl said the company plans to announce a location for full-rate engine production later.
Scholl also directly addressed the XB-1 “baby Boom” scale demonstrator, which rolled out as planned in late 2020 but has fallen almost two years behind schedule in achieving flight. He said the company moved the aircraft to Mojave, California, for “safety testing” and will fly later this year.
However, Scholl admitted that the XB-1 and Overture programs “diverged” due to design refinements of the latter airplane, putting into question what benefits, if any, the company could glean from even flying the demonstrator. Asked if he would still do XB-1 in hindsight, the company chief told AIN he would. “With XB-1, we learned a lot about building an engineering team and safety culture," he said. "It was a worthwhile exercise.”
Meanwhile, company advisor Phil Condit lent more credibility to the program by briefly speaking at Boom’s press conference—marking his first Paris Airshow appearance since 2003, when he retired as Boeing’s chairman and CEO. Having been involved in Boeing’s stillborn supersonic programs, Condit said his work on Overture “brings me full circle.”
Boom estimates a 2027 first flight for Overture, and expects certification and service entry in 2029. Plans call for iron bird testing at Boom's Denver headquarters to start next year.