An independently developed jet has become the first to break the sound barrier over the Mojave Desert.
The white jet, known as the XB-1 aircraft, accelerated to Mach 1.05 within about 11 minutes of taking off, as per its creator company Boom Supersonic and live video of the test flight.
The sound barrier was officially shattered at the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California - the same airspace where Charles “Chuck” Yeager became the first person to do so in 1947 in his iconic orange, bullet-shaped Bell X-1 rocket plane.
Boom Supersonic established its mission to bring back supersonic passenger travel, which disappeared when the Concorde was retired over 20 years ago.
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The company's long-term goal is the Overture airliner, which Boom confirmed to be a supersonic jet designed to carry up to 80 passengers at speeds twice as fast as today’s commercial planes.
“XB-1’s supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived,” Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl stated. “A small band of talented and dedicated engineers has accomplished what previously took governments and billions of dollars.”
XB-1 flew for the first time last March and was 'steadily increasing speeds' over 11 test flights. But it never reached beyond Mach 1 (770 mph) – the speed of sound - until now.
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It is made almost completely from lightweight carbon fibre and is equipped with an augmented reality vision system to assist with landing. This is because its long nose and steep approach angle can make it difficult for pilots to see.
“The future of aviation is here and now,” Amy Marino Spowart, president and CEO of the National Aeronautic Association added.
“Not only is there hope for faster and better commercial flight, but Boom proves that it can be done sustainably.”
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Boom faces a huge challenge in its hope to make supersonic a reality again as any new such service will since the Concorde was discontinued.
The Concorde was famously banned from many overland routes because of the deafening noise caused when it broke the sound barrier.
When a plane flies faster than sound - typically around 760 mph (1,223 kph) at sea level - it creates a shock wave, 'much like a boat creates a wake in water,' explained NASA.
This results in a sonic boom, a loud, thunder-like sound that can be heard on the ground.
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But the Congressional Research Service explained that things like temperature, altitude and other factors can affect the impact of the sonic boom.