Colorado-based aerospace company, Boom Supersonic, has unveiled the new refined design of Overture, the world’s fastest airliner – optimized for speed, safety, and sustainability.
The design for the new version of Overture is based on 26 million core hours of simulated software designs, five wind tunnel tests, and the careful evaluation of 51 full design iterations. Its design elements are expertly engineered for peak supersonic performance, and it will go into production in 2024.
The 205-foot supersonic airliner features four powerful wing-mounted engines instead of the two originally envisaged. The design also includes a higher aspect ratio gull wing, a larger wingspan, and a contoured fuselage, wide in the front and slimmer towards the back. All of the changes are designed to enhance supersonic performance while improving transonic handling to ensure stability at any speed.
The new Overture will carry 65-80 passengers and run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The aircraft will cruise at Mach 1.7 over water and just under Mach 1 over land with a range of 4,250 nautical miles. The aircraft will have a cruising altitude of 60,000 feet and will be capable of running on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with no blends or additives, and operations will be net-zero emissions.
It will be made primarily from carbon composite materials to make it lighter, stronger, and more stable than its metal competitor. Decreasing weight makes the aircraft more fuel efficient, so this material choice makes Overture more sustainable. Boom Supersonic claims that the Overture will also be the first of its kind with an automated noise reduction system for a smooth takeoff without the use of afterburners.
With no afterburners and buzz-free engines, Overture’s takeoffs will blend in with existing long-haul fleets, resulting in a quieter experience for both passengers and airport communities, meeting or exceeding ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) requirements for all subsonic aircraft operating over land and at or near airports.
The company says the Overture will be a highly profitable new addition to global commercial airline fleets, as it is capable of flying twice as many of the wells over 600 identified optimal routes in a day.
