A jet travels faster than sound – level 3

A jet travels faster than sound

31-01-2025 15:00

Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 made history by becoming the first privately funded airplane to break the sound barrier during a test flight over the Mojave Desert.

The flight reached Mach 1.1, 1,360 kph, faster than the speed of sound. Chief Test Pilot Tristan Brandenburg expressed his excitement, saying the plane had never flown better. This milestone is part of Boom Supersonic’s plan to create a commercial supersonic airliner called Overture. The Overture will carry 64-80 passengers and travel across the Atlantic in about 3.5 hours. The company already has 130 orders for the aircraft from major airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines.

Boom Supersonic is constructing a new factory in Greensboro, North Carolina, where they plan to build 66 Overture planes per year. This successful test flight brings them one step closer to reviving supersonic air travel.

Difficult words: milestone (important event or achievement), revive (to bring something back to life or use it again).

You can watch the video news lower on this page.

What is the name of the commercial supersonic airliner that Boom Supersonic plans to create and how many passengers will it be able to carry?

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