FIA2022: Boom Supersonic Reveals Refined Overture Design

[In The News]

FARNBOROUGH – Boom Supersonic unveiled its updated Overture aircraft design today at the Farnborough International Airshow 2022.

Northrop Grumman was also announced as a new partner in the development of the aircraft’s special mission versions. With a range of 4,250 nautical miles and a top speed of Mach 1.7 over water, Overture will be able to carry 65 to 80 passengers at double the speed of current jetliners. It will also run entirely on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The Overture supersonic airliner was shown today at the FIA2022 the product of 26 million core hours of simulated software designs, five wind tunnel tests, and the meticulous analysis of 51 entire design iterations.

“Aviation has not seen a giant leap in decades. Overture is revolutionary in its design, and it will fundamentally change how we think about distance,” said Boom Founder and CEO Blake Scholl. “With more than 600 routes across the globe, Overture will make the world dramatically more accessible for tens of millions of passengers.”

With this updated configuration, Boom combines a number of engineering innovations in aerodynamics, noise reduction, and overall performance.

Image: Boom Supersonic

Key Features

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Four-engine design: Overture will be powered by four powerful, wing-mounted engines that enable the airliner to cruise at Mach 1.7 over water and just under Mach 1 over land. Additionally, the four-engine design reduces noise while also decreasing costs for airline operators. Engine placement was selected to conform to the strictest passenger safety requirements.

Quieter operation: On take-off, Overture will use the world’s first automated noise reduction system. The airliner will fly without afterburners, meeting the same strict regulatory noise levels as the latest subsonic airplanes. These noise reduction efforts will deliver a quieter experience both for passengers and airport communities.  

Contoured fuselage: According to the principle of area-ruling, Overture’s fuselage has a larger diameter toward the front of the aircraft and a smaller diameter toward the rear. Boom has applied this design technique to minimize drag and maximize fuel efficiency at supersonic speeds.

Gull wings: The aircraft’s wings are sculpted to enhance supersonic performance as well as improve subsonic and transonic handling. Importantly, the wing shaping also helps ensure safety and stability at any speed.

Carbon composite construction: Overture will incorporate carbon composite materials into the majority of the build that are lighter, stronger, and more thermally stable than traditional metal construction. Carbon composites can also be manufactured with highly complex curvature, contributing to the aircraft’s aerodynamic efficiency.

Net zero carbon: Overture has been developed from the beginning to be net zero carbon, flying on 100% SAF. Sustainability is woven into all aspects of Overture, from design and production to flight and end-of-life recycling.

Image: Boom Supersonic

Overture Specifications

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• Cruise speed: Mach 1.7 supersonic, Mach 0.94 subsonic
• Range: 4,250nm with full payload
• Passengers: 65–80
• Exterior Dimensions: Length: 201 feet, Wingspan: 106 feet, Height: 36 feet
• Interior Dimensions: 79 feet long, up to 6.5 feet height at aisle
• Airframe: composite fuselage, wing, vertical, and horizontal
• Wing: gull with digital leading and trailing edge flap control
• Flight controls: 4x redundant digital fly-by-wire on 2 LRUs
• Powerplant: 4x medium-bypass 100% SAF-compatible turbofan
• Airport Community noise: ICAO Chapter 14 / FAA Stage 5

Additionally, the company announced today that it will begin outfitting The Iron Bird, a new 70,000-square-foot hardware ground test facility in Centennial, Colorado to house its first full-scale Overture testing model, and flight deck simulators.

The test model, also called an iron bird, will be used for integrating Overture’s flight hardware, software, and systems. Earlier this year, Boom announced its selection of the Piedmont Triad area for its first Overture Superfactory and remains on track to begin production in 2024.

Image: Boom Supersonic

Boom, Northrop Grumman Partnership Agreement

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Boom Supersonic also made a historic partnership announcement with Northrop Grumman today at the Farnborough Airshow in order to develop specific mission variants for the American government and its allies.

“Time is a strategic advantage in high consequence scenarios, from emergency evacuations to disaster response,” said Scholl. “This collaboration between Boom and Northrop Grumman unlocks the potential for Overture to provide the US and our allies with an unmatched high-speed capability when and where it’s most needed.”

In order to support governmental and military operations that demand a rapid response, the two companies will jointly pursue new use cases for Overture. These use cases will include rapid surveillance and reconnaissance, command and control, as well as mobility and logistics missions like troop and emergency medical transport.

“Pairing Northrop Grumman’s airborne defense systems integration expertise with Boom’s state-of-the-art Overture supersonic aircraft makes perfect sense,” said Tom Jones, president of Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems. “Together we can ensure military variants of Overture are tailored for missions where advanced system capabilities and speed are critical.”

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Featured image: Boom Supersonic

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