The future of air travel is about to break the sound barrier once again. As someone who has closely followed the developments in aviation technology, I find the story of Boom Supersonic’s journey particularly compelling. The company’s XB-1, the first independently developed supersonic aircraft in history, represents more than just technological advancement—it symbolizes a fundamental shift in how we approach ambitious technological challenges.
Blake Scholl, Boom’s founder and CEO, has demonstrated that sometimes the most transformative ideas are hiding in plain sight, waiting for someone bold enough to challenge conventional wisdom. His journey from a software engineer at Amazon to leading a company that aims to revolutionize air travel offers valuable insights into innovation and entrepreneurship.
Breaking Down the Supersonic Vision
The future of air travel shouldn’t be limited by today’s speeds. Boom’s ultimate goal is to make the planet dramatically more accessible through their upcoming passenger aircraft, Overture. This supersonic airliner will carry approximately 65 passengers at Mach 1.7, running on sustainable fuel.
The potential impact on travel times is remarkable:
- Tokyo to Seattle: 4.5 hours
- New York to London: 3 hours and 45 minutes
- Similar fares to current business class tickets
Learning from Past Failures
The Concorde’s story serves as both inspiration and cautionary tale. While it successfully demonstrated supersonic passenger travel was possible, its $20,000 ticket prices (adjusted for inflation) made it unsustainable. The key to success isn’t just building a faster plane—it’s building one that’s economically viable.
If every founder just worked on the most ambitious thing they get their head around, everyone’s gonna be a lot happier and a lot more great things are gonna get built.
The Power of Outside Perspective
What’s particularly fascinating about Boom’s approach is how Scholl tackled the challenge as an outsider. Instead of spending years acquiring traditional aerospace credentials, he focused on understanding fundamental truths. The entire concept of a viable supersonic passenger aircraft came down to four key metrics:
- Aerodynamic efficiency
- Lift to drag ratio
- Propulsive efficiency
- Structural efficiency
This simplified approach allowed him to see possibilities that industry experts had overlooked.
Building the Impossible with a Small Team
Perhaps the most striking aspect of Boom’s story is that they’ve accomplished what many thought impossible with a team of just 50 people. Their success challenges the assumption that only large aerospace companies can innovate in aviation.
The team composition follows a specific formula:
- Young, ambitious professionals
- Early-career experts from companies like SpaceX
- Select veterans who haven’t been “corrupted” by traditional aerospace thinking
- A handful of experienced advisors on speed dial
A New Model for Innovation
I believe Boom’s approach to supersonic flight development offers valuable lessons for any ambitious project. Their success stems from questioning established assumptions and focusing on fundamental truths rather than conventional wisdom.
The bystander effect in innovation is real and dangerous. When something seems obviously beneficial yet isn’t being done, too many assume there must be a good reason why. This mindset creates opportunities for those willing to challenge assumptions and do the quantitative analysis.
The return of supersonic flight isn’t just about faster travel—it’s about proving that ambitious technological goals are achievable with the right approach, regardless of traditional industry constraints.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes Boom’s approach to supersonic flight different from the Concorde?
Boom’s approach focuses on economic viability, targeting business class fare levels rather than ultra-premium pricing. They’re also using sustainable fuel and have developed technology to minimize sonic booms, allowing for overland flights.
Q: When can we expect to fly on Boom’s passenger aircraft?
Boom plans to begin passenger service with their Overture aircraft by 2029. The current XB-1 prototype serves as a testing platform for the technologies that will be used in the passenger version.
Q: How does Boom manage to compete with large aerospace companies?
By maintaining a small, highly skilled team of about 50 people, Boom can move faster and more efficiently than larger organizations. Their team combines young talent with selective industry experience to drive innovation.
Q: What are the environmental considerations for supersonic flight?
Boom’s Overture is designed to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel, addressing environmental concerns. They’ve also developed technology to minimize sonic booms, reducing the environmental impact on communities below flight paths.
Q: How affordable will supersonic travel be compared to current options?
Boom aims to price their tickets at current business class levels, making supersonic travel accessible to a broader market than the Concorde, which charged approximately $20,000 per ticket in today’s dollars.
