Overture is the culmination of 26 million core-hours of simulated software designs, five wind tunnel tests, and the careful evaluation of 51 full design iterations, resulting in an economically and environmentally sustainable supersonic airliner. (Photo courtesy Boom Supersonic)
Company also enters market-expanding alliance with Northrop Grumman and new Tier One suppliers
July 19, 2022
DENVER—Boom Supersonic has refined its design of Overture, the aircraft that Boom is working to develop into the “world’s fastest airliner, optimized for speed, safety, and sustainability.” Boom revealed the updated design at the Farnborough International Airshow, while also announcing a new partnering agreement with Northrop Grumman to develop special mission variants of the aircraft.
Overture will carry 65–80 passengers at twice the speed of today’s airliners. Running on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), Overture will fly Mach 1.7 over water with a range of 4,250 nautical miles, according to a release from Boom Supersonic.
The Overture reveal at the Farnborough International Airshow is the culmination of 26 million core-hours of simulated software designs, five wind tunnel tests, and the careful evaluation of 51 full design iterations. All of this results in an economically and environmentally sustainable supersonic airliner, Boom said in the release.
“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, in the release. “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 said it combines a number of engineering innovations in aerodynamics, noise reduction, and overall performance.
Key features include a 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. The four-engine design is said to reduce noise while also decreasing costs for airline operators. Engine placement was selected to conform to the strictest passenger safety requirements, the company said.
The design is also said to provide quieter operation. On take-off, Overture will use what it called 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.
Overture also sports a 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 said it applied this design technique to minimize drag and maximize fuel efficiency at supersonic speeds.
Another notable design feature is Overture’s carbon composite construction. The aircraft will incorporate, into the majority of the build, carbon composite materials 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.
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