Skåning
Well-Known Member
I forgot about that! Thought the engine on the tail thing was cool on whatever this was:
The totally reasonable and not at all extravagant desire for speed...
- Thread starter invadertim
- Start date
I forgot about that! Thought the engine on the tail thing was cool on whatever this was:
Fixtur
Dunning-Kruger Expert
Why are they loading on a taxiway?Hmm, yes, engine inlets at the rear-center of a delta planform wing. I'm sure this will be successful during takeoff and landing.
View attachment 59140
edit: sorry. Already covered in this thread.
inigo88
Composite-lover
While it’s too early to tell about the viability of the business model for the business jet version, I can say that I worked with some of the engineers who went on to design and build the XB-1 demonstrator and they are the real deal. In fact they were some of the smartest people I had the pleasure working with, and it’s been fun cheering on their progress the last couple years.
While the business jet concept may still be strictly on the drawing board (and I don’t believe the $100 thing in their marketing for a second), here are some examples of why the XB-1 demonstrator is FAR more than a mock-up and will be a fully functional experimental aircraft backed by mature engineering.
boomsupersonic.com
I wish I could link to it but see “Inside Look: View Fuselage” half way down that page for build photos. The forward fuselage and wings are carbon fiber composite, and the entire aft fuselage containing the engines is titanium.
Will they be able to sell $100 tickets? I think zero chance. But will we get to see an XB-1 demonstrator first flight? “Signs point to yes”, and it’s going to be awesome.
While the business jet concept may still be strictly on the drawing board (and I don’t believe the $100 thing in their marketing for a second), here are some examples of why the XB-1 demonstrator is FAR more than a mock-up and will be a fully functional experimental aircraft backed by mature engineering.
Boom - XB-1
boomsupersonic.com
I wish I could link to it but see “Inside Look: View Fuselage” half way down that page for build photos. The forward fuselage and wings are carbon fiber composite, and the entire aft fuselage containing the engines is titanium.
Will they be able to sell $100 tickets? I think zero chance. But will we get to see an XB-1 demonstrator first flight? “Signs point to yes”, and it’s going to be awesome.
Screaming_Emu
Well-Known Member
While it’s too early to tell about the viability of the business model for the business jet version, I can say that I worked with some of the engineers who went on to design and build the XB-1 demonstrator and they are the real deal. In fact they were some of the smartest people I had the pleasure working with, and it’s been fun cheering on their progress the last couple years.
While the business jet concept may still be strictly on the drawing board (and I don’t believe the $100 thing in their marketing for a second), here are some examples of why the XB-1 demonstrator is FAR more than a mock-up and will be a fully functional experimental aircraft backed by mature engineering.
Boom - XB-1
I wish I could link to it but see “Inside Look: View Fuselage” half way down that page for build photos. The forward fuselage and wings are carbon fiber composite, and the entire aft fuselage containing the engines is titanium.
Will they be able to sell $100 tickets? I think zero chance. But will we get to see an XB-1 demonstrator first flight? “Signs point to yes”, and it’s going to be awesome.
I feel a little guilty about how smart engineers have to be and how dumb pilots can be. Designing these amazing machines and then giving the keys to some idiot like me must be kind of depressing.
inigo88
Composite-lover
I know you’re mostly kidding but don’t feel guilty, just different skill sets.
There are plenty of aerospace engineers that think they’re God’s gift to aviation and don’t actually have a clue how the flying bit works, plenty of maintainers that think the pilots AND engineers don’t have a clue, etc (having done all three jobs I can vouch that they’re right sometimes lol).My point was mainly just to say that you guys are right to be skeptical of a startup making a supersonic business jet and claiming outlandishly cheap operating costs, especially after history has shown the perils of new aviation market fads (VLJ, urban mobility VTOL? etc). However in this case, knowing that some of the brightest engineers I’ve met went off to go make the XB-1, I have a feeling that if allowed to be funded to completion it’s going to kick ass. Whether the business model will be successful though given the limitations of supersonic flight over land and the high operating costs that sunk the Concorde is a valid debate.
Either way, I think having more first flights of cool stuff is a net win for all of us that like airplanes.
The fact my degree program requires a couple of physics classes kind of chaps me. “I just fly the stupid thing, if I wanted to be an engineer I’d have been an engineer.”I know you’re mostly kidding but don’t feel guilty, just different skill sets.
My point was mainly just to say that you guys are right to be skeptical of a startup making a supersonic business jet and claiming outlandishly cheap operating costs, especially after history has shown the perils of new aviation market fads (VLJ, urban mobility VTOL? etc). However in this case, knowing that some of the brightest engineers I’ve met went off to go make the XB-1, I have a feeling that if allowed to be funded to completion it’s going to kick ass. Whether the business model will be successful though given the limitations of supersonic flight over land and the high operating costs that sunk the Concorde is a valid debate.
Either way, I think having more first flights of cool stuff is a net win for all of us that like airplanes.
invadertim
In my experence, its always my fault.
Holy necropost Bat-Person... Anyhow, seems they have gotten a demonstrator in the air
https://www.cnn.com/travel/boom-supersonic-xb1-demonstrator-first-flight/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/travel/boom-supersonic-xb1-demonstrator-first-flight/index.html
knot4u
Repeat Offender
I like this. If SpaceX can transport people/supplies safely to and from the ISS when NASA doesn't why shouldn't a start-up explore this unused portion of the market? I can guarantee if they can build a certified private jet that can match Concorde speeds the line of billionaires will be out the door. Some of the folks with the majority of the money just have to have the latest and greatest. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if that company is bought by either Dassault, Bombardier, Gulfstream or Airbus, I'd add Boeing to that list but they already have a lot on their plate. The G650 is already old as is the Global 5000, the folks with really deep pockets are just waiting for the next big shiny thing and they'll want to be first one to have it.