Boom Supersonic has completed construction of its Overture Superfactory at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina. Currently in development, the Overture is a supersonic airliner with a cruise speed of Mach 1.7. The aircraft is designed to operate on up to 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The initial assembly line at the Overture Superfactory has the capacity to produce 33 Overtures per year. Boom plans to build an additional assembly line, enabling production to scale up 66 supersonic airliners annually. The Superfactory campus will also include a delivery center.
Boom said that North Carolina economists have estimated that the full Boom manufacturing program will grow the state’s economy by at least $32.3 billion over 20 years, with the Superfactory directly adding more than 2,400 jobs. The company added that the Superfactory will be LEED certified, and is expected to be at least 40 percent more energy-efficient compared to similar manufacturing facilities.
With construction of the building complete, Boom will now focus on operationalizing the production floor. In partnership with tooling supplier Advanced Integration Technology (AIT), Boom will begin procuring and installing tooling in the facility, beginning with an advanced test cell unit. As the first major piece of equipment to be installed, the test cell will be used to develop manufacturing processes, optimize the flow of the assembly line, and prepare staff for Overture production.
Rollout of an initial Overture prototype is scheduled for 2026. First flight is slated for 2027. Certification is planned to occur by 2029.
The Overture order book stands at 130 aircraft, including orders and pre-orders from American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines. Suppliers and partners collaborating with Boom on the Overture program include Aernnova, Aciturri, Collins Aerospace, Eaton, Honeywell, Latecoere, Leonardo, Safran Landing Systems, and the U.S. Air Force. Boom is working with Northrop Grumman on government and defense applications for the Overture.
The four-engine Overture is to be powered by a new, 35,000-lbst turbofan engine called the Symphony. Boom has teamed with Florida Turbine Technologies (FTT) to design the new engine. FTT is a subsidiary of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. Also involved in the Symphony development effort are GE Aerospace subsidiary Colibrium Additive for additive technology design consulting and StandardAero for collaboration on engine maintenance.
In March 2024, Boom’s XB-1 demonstrator made its first flight. A one-third subscale demonstrator, the XB-1 is being used to demonstrate technologies for the Overture. It is equipped with three GE J85-15 turbojet engines, rated 3,500 lbst each. In April 2024, the XB-1 received a Special Flight Authorization (SFA) to Exceed Mach 1 from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Raymond Jaworowski currently co-authors three of Forecast International's best-selling products: Civil Aircraft Forecast, Military Aircraft Forecast, and Rotorcraft Forecast. As a contributor to Aviation Week & Space Technology's Aerospace Source Book, he has authored Aircraft Outlooks, and provided input for the publication's Aircraft Specifications tables. Raymond has represented Forecast International at numerous conferences and trade shows, often as a featured speaker. He is a member of the American Helicopter Society.
