NASA Captures Supersonic Shockwaves of XB-1's Historic Flight

The XB-1, the first U.S.-made civilian supersonic jet, achieved a groundbreaking 'boomless' supersonic flight documented through advanced Schlieren photography.

Boom Supersonic's XB-1 jet became the first privately developed U.S. civilian supersonic aircraft to break the sound barrier, with its second supersonic flight occurring on February 10, 2025.
NASA used Schlieren photography to capture detailed images of shockwaves created by the XB-1, visualizing changes in air density during supersonic speeds as the aircraft flew over the Mojave Desert.
Acoustic data collected during the flight confirmed that no sonic boom was audible on the ground, demonstrating the feasibility of 'boomless cruise' technology for future supersonic travel.
The data from these test flights will inform the development of Boom Supersonic's Overture airliner, designed to fly at Mach 1.3 and reduce coast-to-coast U.S. flight times by up to 90 minutes.
Boom's Overture Superfactory in North Carolina is preparing for production, with pre-orders for the airliner already placed by major airlines including United, American, and Japan Airlines.

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