By: Bryan Jung – TheEpochTimes.com
American Airlines announced on Tuesday that it has agreed to purchase 20 supersonic Overture planes from Boom Supersonic, both companies said.
American also paid an undisclosed amount as a nonrefundable deposit for the order, which it could expand to an additional 40 supersonic planes.
The new supersonic airliner design, which has not gone into production, is the second commercial triumph for the startup, after United Airlines committed to buying 15 of the jets in June 2021, with an option to acquire 35 more.
“We are proud to share our vision of a more connected and sustainable world with American Airlines,” said Boom CEO Blake Scholl in a statement.
“We believe Overture can help American deepen its competitive advantage on network, loyalty, and overall airline preference through the paradigm-changing benefits of cutting travel times in half.”
Japan Airlines and the U.S. Air Force have also placed orders for the plane.
Almost Twice the Speed of Sound
The Colorado startup announced in 2018 that it was seeking to recreate a supersonic commercial jetliner design that most resembled the experience of the Concorde, with a 65–80-seat capacity, at an average speed of Mach 1.7, or 1,304 mph.
Last month, Boom announced changes to the plane’s design to make it simpler and less expensive to build and maintain, and increased the amount of engines to four under delta-shaped wings.
The Overture does not yet have an engine manufacturer lined up, but it may potentially use a design from Rolls Royce or others.
The Concorde had a maximum recorded speed of Mach 2.04, or 1,565 mph, and could carry 100 passengers; but after it was retired in 2003, no commercial aircraft has since been able to fly at the speed of sound (761 mph).
A few years ago, after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) eased some of its regulations regarding supersonic flight, a few aviation startups like Boom announced new supersonic aircraft designs using modern technologies that would make it more affordable to the average commuter.
However, the Concorde was too expensive for most travelers to afford, which severely limited its customer base.
The new aircraft is designed to cater to business-class travelers, with tickets expecting to cost $4,000–5,000.
The Overture, which is still in the design phase, is allegedly capable of traveling roughly twice the speed of the fastest conventional commercial aircraft while over water, dramatically cutting trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific flight times.
“Passengers want flights that are faster, more convenient, more sustainable, and that’s what Overture delivers,” said Scholl, in an interview with CNBC.
“Flight times can be as little as half as what we have today, and that works great in networks like American, where we can fly Miami to London in less than five hours.”
The Overture is designed with a range of 4,250 nautical miles and is able to make the flight from Miami to London in less than five hours, versus nine hours with subsonic planes.
A flight from Seattle to Tokyo, which normally takes more than 10 hours, could be completed in six hours.
Boom also boasted that the Overture is a net-zero carbon aircraft, which can fly on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel.
“Looking to the future, supersonic travel will be an important part of our ability to deliver for our customers,” said Derek Kerr, American’s chief financial officer, in a statement.
“We are excited about how Boom will shape the future of travel both for our company and our customers.”
Boom is planning to build the jet at a new manufacturing plant in North Carolina, and the program is estimated to cost between $6 billion and $8 billion, with each new plane at a list price of $200 million.
The company said it is planning to launch the Overture in 2025, with its first flight scheduled for 2026.
If the Overture passes its flight tests and certifications as planned, it will be able to enter commercial service and carry its first passengers by 2029. (TheEpochTimes.com)
ADDENDUM
In a press release issued on Tuesday by boomsupersonic.com, they said “Boom Supersonic’s Overture would introduce an important new speed advantage to American’s fleet, which is currently the simplest, youngest and most efficient among U.S. network carriers. Under the terms of the agreement, Boom must meet industry-standard operating, performance and safety requirements as well as American’s other customary conditions before delivery of any Overtures.”
Overture is being designed to carry 65 to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7 over water — or twice the speed of today’s fastest commercial aircraft — with a range of 4,250 nautical miles. Optimized for speed, safety and sustainability, Overture is also being designed to fly more than 600 routes around the world in as little as half the time. Flying from Miami to London in just under five hours and Los Angeles to Honolulu in three hours are among the many possibilities, the press released added.
In July, Boom revealed the final production design of Overture, which is slated to roll out in 2025 and carry its first passengers by 2029.
About American Airlines Group
To Care for People on Life’s Journey®. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.
About Boom Supersonic
Boom Supersonic is transforming air travel with Overture, the world’s fastest airliner, optimized for speed, safety, and sustainability. Serving both civil and government markets, Overture will fly at twice the speed of today’s airliners and is designed to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Overture’s order book, including purchases and options from American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines stands at 130 aircraft. Boom is working with Northrop Grumman for government and defense applications of Overture. Suppliers and partners collaborating with Boom on the Overture program include Collins Aerospace, Eaton, Safran Landing Systems, Rolls-Royce, the United States Air Force, American Express, Climeworks, and AWS. For more information, visit https://boomsupersonic.com
