The FAA has issued a first-of-its-kind authorization to Boom so that its XB-1 aircraft can exceed Mach 1 during test flights.
XB-1’s test flight program is ongoing with the supersonic flight planned for later this year in the Black Mountain Supersonic Corridor in Mojave, California an area that has been used extensively for research and military supersonic aeronautical operations.
The special flight authorization to exceed Mach 1 from US regulator the FAA also covers a specified chase plane aircraft, which will trail XB-1 to observe, monitor, and record safety of flight.
XB-1, which flew for the first time last month, is a prototype aircraft that is validating technologies and design features that will be used on Boom’s planned Overture airliner. These include an augmented reality vision system, aerodynamics tweaked for supersonic flight, composite materials, and engine intakes that slow down the speed of incoming air.
Over the coming months, testing at Boom will expand the flight envelope of XB-1 to confirm its performance and handling qualities through and beyond Mach 1. This includes in-flight checks of all systems, as well as multiple test points to demonstrate safe margin to flutter boundaries.
Between 10 and 20 flights are planned before the aircraft reaches supersonic speeds. The next XB-1 test flight will test the landing gear and the third will evaluate XB-1’s flutter excitation system.
Test pilot Tristan ‘Geppetto’ Brandenberg will fly XB-1 for its first supersonic flight. Geppetto flew the T-38 chase aircraft which monitored XB-1 in the air during its inaugural flight.
“We anticipate taking it up to 16 degrees AOA [angle of attack] and will also evaluate the sideslip which will expand the envelope to give us a little bit more margin on a nominal landing. It will also be the first time the ‘dampers’—or stability augmentation system—is used,” said Brandenburg.
“Right now, the plan is multiple supersonic flights. We plan to do Mach 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 on the first three. The reason for that is each one of those points takes so much airspace that you only have time to do one of them, so we will be on condition for several minutes, we’ll get a flying qualities and handling qualities block, and have to come back home.”
