'Sustainable' Supersonic Plane Already Has Dozens Of Pre-Orders From Airlines, Government
Author: Tyler Durden
Denver-based Boom Supersonic has developed the "Overture," which will run on "100% sustainable aviation fuel" (SAF), powering four smaller wing-mounted engines to keep weight and temperature balanced. It will also incorporate carbon composite materials for a lightweight, yet robust air frame. The company has already scored contracts from the US Air Force and two airlines - with United Airlines committing to 15 aircraft once safety requirements are met, as well as an option to purchase 35 more. Japan Airlines has also pre-ordered 20 of them, while the company is creating custom applications for the government. SAF uses different types of waste products, such as used cooking oil to animal fat, to deliver the same performance as conventional jet fuel - just with a (claimed) reduced carbon footprint. "Environmental performance is being considered in all aspects of Overture, from design and production to flight and end-of-life recycling," reads Boom's website. "The engineering team prioritizes circularity by repurposing used tooling, recycling components on the shop floor and leveraging additive manufacturing techniques that result in less manufacturing waste and lighter, more fuel-efficient products."