Istanbul Gelisim University Faculty of Engineering and Architecture: Monthly Press Release (Issue: 1, January 2022)

Abstract

Boom Supersonic Airplane is taking the next step to bring its Overture airliner to market with the selection of Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina as the site for its manufacturing plant. Plans call for breaking ground on the plant this year, beginning production on the Mach 2.2 Overture in 2024, and employing some 2,400 workers there by 2032. The company called Greensboro an optimal location for its aerospace workforce base. In the Piedmont Triad area, Greensboro is home to several aerospace companies, including Honda Aircraft and Haeco Americas. Another advantage to the location, is its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, which will facilitate supersonic flight testing. “Selecting the site for Overture manufacturing is a significant step forward in bringing sustainable supersonic air travel to passengers and airlines,” said Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl. Boom rolled out its one-third scale XB-1 demonstrator in October 2020 as a testbed for Overture technologies. Initial plans call for an airliner that could carry between 65 and 88 passengers running on 100 percent sustainable fuel. Expected to roll out in 2025 and fly in 2026, the Overture is anticipated to begin revenue passenger flights by 2029. Including both orders and options, Boom claims a backlog totaling $14 billion from United Airlines and Japan Airlines. The company also is working with the U.S. Air Force on potential government applications.