The experimental XB-1 aircraft has successfully broken the sound barrier three times during its first supersonic flight, shattering a long-standing challenge in supersonic aviation. According to US company Boom Supersonic, the achievement confirms that supersonic travel can be affordable, sustainable, and friendly to those onboard and on the ground.
During supersonic flight, an aircraft creates sound waves that combine to form a shock wave or sonic boom when it surpasses Mach 1. However, by taking advantage of a physics phenomenon called the Mach cutoff, the XB-1 managed to bypass this issue. This phenomenon occurs at higher altitudes where sound moves more slowly, causing the sonic boom to be deflected upwards instead of reaching the ground.
While this achievement is promising, it also comes with limitations. Performing the Mach-cutoff flight consumes more fuel than traditional supersonic flights, making it less economically viable for commercial airlines. However, Boom Supersonic believes that this technology can still find use in niche applications, such as business jet users.
The company plans to utilize its learnings from the XB-1 test flights to develop its future commercial airliner, Overture. If successful, supersonic overland flights could reduce air travel times by up to 50% and shorten journeys between cities like New York and Los Angeles by 90 minutes.
Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2467745-how-the-xb-1-aircraft-went-supersonic-without-a-sonic-boom