Boom Supersonic is poised to revolutionize commercial aviation with the Overture, a supersonic airliner capable of Mach 1.7 speeds. The company’s audacious goal of democratizing supersonic travel, reminiscent of the Concorde era, is rapidly materializing.
With the recent completion of the world’s first supersonic airliner factory and the revealing of the Overture’s flight deck at the Farnborough Airshow, Boom is steadily transforming its vision into reality. While the cockpit’s design may initially appear conventional, it represents a groundbreaking departure from traditional aviation interfaces.
Integrated with Honeywell’s cutting-edge Anthem avionics suite, the Overture’s flight deck is designed to provide pilots with an unprecedented level of situational awareness and control, potentially redefining the pilot experience and setting a new standard for commercial aviation cockpits.
The aircraft’s centerpiece is the Anthem, an innovative cloud-connected cockpit system designed to streamline pilot workflows and enhance flight preparation. By providing remote access to essential flight information and integrating various support systems into a single platform, the Anthem eliminates the need for multiple third-party applications, simplifying the pilot’s workload.
The cockpit’s intuitive, smartphone-like interface features high-resolution displays that allow pilots to customize the presentation of data, ensuring optimal visibility and efficiency. To further raise the pilot experience, Boom has incorporated groundbreaking features such as a head-worn vision system and force-feedback sidesticks.
The head-worn system offers pilots an augmented reality view of the external environment, particularly beneficial during takeoff and landing. The force-feedback sidesticks provide unparalleled control and responsiveness, enhancing the pilot’s connection with the aircraft. Remarkably, despite the significant departure from conventional cockpit design, experienced pilots, including a Concorde veteran, have expressed overwhelming enthusiasm for the system.
Beyond the cockpit, Boom is making substantial progress in other key areas of the Overture’s development. The Symphony engines, which power the aircraft, are currently undergoing rigorous testing, with the first fully operational core scheduled for completion by the end of next year. These advancements collectively position the Overture as a transformative force in the aviation industry, promising to redefine the passenger experience while setting new standards for flight safety and efficiency.
Powering the Overture supersonic aircraft will be four twin-spool, medium-bypass turbofan engines, each capable of generating an impressive 35,000 pounds of thrust at takeoff. These engines, manufactured by Florida Turbine Technologies (FTT), a Kratos Defense & Security Solutions subsidiary, will be assembled at the StandardAero facility in San Antonio, Texas.
With an annual production capacity of approximately 330 engines, the assembly line will be able to equip 82 Overture planes. These aircraft, designed to carry around 80 passengers, will have a range of up to 4,800 miles thanks to their large fuel tanks. Notably, the Overture will operate exclusively on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
