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The world's fastest jet just received $33 million in funding — and flying on it could soon become a reality
Boom Supersonic
The world's fastest jet could get you from Sydney to Los Angeles in just over six hours — and travelling on it could soon become a reality.
The Boom Supersonic's XB-1, or the "baby boom," has received $33 million (£26 million) in Series A funding, taking its total raised to $41 million (£33 million), the company said in a blog.
The latest backing came from a group which included Richard Branson's The Spaceship Company — the manufacturing arm of Virgin Galactic — as well as other "tech bosses, engineers, and astronauts," according to The Daily Mail.
Costing more than $329 million (£262 million) to build, the jet could make same-day returns on roughly 500 routes around the globe — potentially as soon as the early 2020s. This means it could fly from London to New York in three hours and fifteen minutes, or Tokyo to San Francisco in five hours.
A flight will cost you, however. Boom Airline's 45 seats are expected to cost $6,600 (£5,250).
Boom Supersonic
The airline will be the "fastest civil airplane ever made and the first independently-developed surpersonic jet," according to the company.
It will travel at 1,451 miles per hour (10% faster than Concorde), and will fly at around 60,000 feet — higher than any other aircraft has flown, according to The Daily Mail, resulting in a quieter, less turbulent experience. It will provide every passenger with a seat that is both window and aisle thanks to its two single-seat rows.
Boom Supersonic
At the launch of the jet last November, CEO and founder Blake Scholl said: "Concorde’s designers didn’t have the technology for affordable supersonic travel, but now we do."
In a press release last week, in which the company said the funding round had reached $41 million, he added: "Our mission is to make supersonic flight a reality. With this new capital, we are closer than ever to the first flight of our XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator in about a year."
Boom Supersonic
The funding will be used to "finish development and fabrication of the XB-1 demonstrator and conduct a thorough flight test program including sonic boom testing," according to the company.
"We’re excited to have an option on Boom’s first 10 airframes," Branson said last year. "Through Virgin Galactic’s manufacturing arm, The Spaceship Company, we will provide engineering and manufacturing services, along with flight test support and operations as part of our shared ambitions."
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