Supersonic Travel: The Future of Aviation

Boom Supersonic, an aerospace company, is developing a supersonic passenger jet called Overture, designed to travel at 1,800 kmph, double the speed of commercial airlines. This ambitious project aims to make supersonic travel a reality, following in the footsteps of the Concorde, which first flew in 1969 and could travel from New York to London in under 3 hours.

The Concorde Legacy

The Concorde, a supersonic jet, was an engineering marvel but not a commercial success due to high running costs, sonic booms, and safety concerns, leading to its grounding in 2003. Former Concorde pilot Mike Bannister, with over 22 years of experience flying the plane, accumulated nearly 10,000 hours on Concorde, with just under 7,000 of those hours being supersonic, making him the person with the most supersonic flight hours.

Boom Supersonic’s Overture Concept

Supersonic travel is making a comeback with Boom Supersonic’s Overture concept, a next-generation airliner designed for net-zero carbon emissions. The company’s subscale test jet, the XV-1, aims to prove that supersonic travel can be clean, quiet, and efficient. The XV-1 has a unique design, featuring a curved shape, a delta wing, and a distinctive ogive wing shape resembling a Coke bottle.

Key Features of the XV-1

Long, pointy, and skinny design to minimize drag and maximize speed
Three J85 engines, with two outboard engines and a third engine located differently
Carbon fiber and titanium components for thermal and strength reasons
Two cameras installed on the nose gear, providing a live video feed to the pilot

Flight Simulation and Testing

A person is introduced to a flight simulator, the Sim, which is an exact replica of the cockpit of an XB1. The simulator provides a realistic experience, with multiple displays and cameras, including two on the nose gear. The person is given a tour of the simulator’s features and offered to take it for a test run, with guidance from an experienced pilot.

Flight Simulation Experience

As they begin the simulation, they are instructed to push the throttles forward and use the right foot pedal to control the aircraft. The person receives guidance on airspeed, landing gear, and navigation, and is eventually left to fly on their own, experiencing the sensation of flying and exploring the simulator’s capabilities.

Breaking the Sound Barrier

The XV-1 is traveling at Mach 1, or 1200 kmph, breaking the sound barrier, and aiming to fly from London to New York in under 4 hours. An actual test flight for Boom Supersonic is witnessed, with the XB-1 taking off and becoming airborne, eventually reaching supersonic speeds of Mach 1.1, making history.

The Future of Supersonic Travel

Supersonic travel is now possible for civilians thanks to the XV-1, paving the way for Overture to move forward with its development. The speaker is excited to share their experience of flying in a unique plane, describing it as a potential future of air travel. With the success of the XV-1, the future of supersonic travel looks promising, and Boom Supersonic is leading the way.

Key Vocabulary

Term	Definition	Example Usage
Supersonic	Traveling at speeds greater than the speed of sound (approximately 768 mph or 1,236 km/h)	The Concorde was a supersonic jet that could travel from New York to London in under 3 hours.
Sonic Boom	A sudden, sharp noise produced by an object breaking the sound barrier	The Concorde’s sonic booms were a major concern for residents near airports.
Net-Zero Carbon Emissions	The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to zero, or offsetting emissions through other means	Boom Supersonic’s Overture concept aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions.
Delta Wing	A type of wing design that is triangular in shape, providing stability and maneuverability	The XV-1 features a delta wing design, allowing for increased stability at high speeds.
Ogive Wing Shape	A type of wing design that is curved, resembling a Coke bottle shape, providing reduced drag and increased efficiency	The XV-1’s ogive wing shape helps to minimize drag and maximize speed.
Mach Number	A measure of an object’s speed relative to the speed of sound, with Mach 1 being the speed of sound	The XV-1 reached a Mach number of 1.1, breaking the sound barrier.
Flight Simulator	A device or system that mimics the experience of flying an aircraft, used for training and testing purposes	The Sim is a flight simulator that provides a realistic experience of flying the XV-1.
Subscale Test Jet	A smaller-scale version of an aircraft, used for testing and development purposes	The XV-1 is a subscale test jet for Boom Supersonic’s Overture concept.
Carbon Fiber	A lightweight, strong material used in aircraft construction, providing improved strength-to-weight ratio	The XV-1 features carbon fiber components for reduced weight and increased strength.
Titanium	A strong, lightweight metal used in aircraft construction, providing high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance	The XV-1 features titanium components for improved strength and thermal resistance.

Watch The Video

Inside The World’s Fastest Passenger Plane

Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘exceeding the speed of sound’?

A) Subsonic
B) Supersonic
C) Transonic
D) Hypersonic

2. What is the primary goal of Boom Supersonic’s Overture concept?

A) To develop a jet that can fly from New York to London in under 2 hours
B) To create a next-generation airliner designed for net-zero carbon emissions
C) To build a jet that can break the sound barrier at Mach 2
D) To design a plane with a unique ogive wing shape

3. What material is used in the XV-1 for thermal and strength reasons?

A) Aluminum and steel
B) Carbon fiber and titanium
C) Wood and plastic
D) Copper and bronze

4. What is the name of Boom Supersonic’s subscale test jet?

A) Overture
B) Concorde
C) XV-1
D) XB1

5. At what speed is the sound barrier broken?

A) Mach 0.5, or 600 kmph
B) Mach 1, or 1200 kmph
C) Mach 1.5, or 1800 kmph
D) Mach 2, or 2400 kmph

Answer Key:

1. B
2. B
3. B
4. C
5. B

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Present Perfect Tense to Describe Experiences and Achievements

The present perfect tense is used to describe experiences and achievements that started in the past and continue up to the present moment. It is formed using the auxiliary verb “has” or “have” and the past participle of the main verb. For example, in the text, “Mike Bannister, with over 22 years of experience flying the plane, accumulated nearly 10,000 hours on Concorde” can be rephrased using the present perfect tense as “Mike Bannister has accumulated nearly 10,000 hours on Concorde.” This tense is useful for describing someone’s life experiences, skills, or achievements. Another example from the text is “Boom Supersonic is developing a supersonic passenger jet,” which implies that the development started in the past and is ongoing, and can be rephrased as “Boom Supersonic has been developing a supersonic passenger jet.” The present perfect tense is often used with words like “ever,” “never,” “already,” and “yet” to ask about or describe experiences.

Grammar Quiz:

1. By the time Mike Bannister stopped flying the Concorde, he ____________________ nearly 10,000 hours on the plane.

A) has accumulated

B) accumulates

C) had accumulated

D) accumulate

2. Boom Supersonic ____________________ a supersonic passenger jet for several years now.

A) develops

B) has been developing

C) developed

D) is developing

3. The XV-1 ____________________ a unique design, featuring a curved shape and a delta wing, by the time it was tested.

A) has

B) have

C) had

D) was having

4. The person introduced to the flight simulator ____________________ a realistic experience with multiple displays and cameras.

A) has

B) have

C) had

D) was having

5. By next year, Boom Supersonic ____________________ the development of Overture for over five years.

A) will have been developing

B) has developed

C) is developing

D) develops

Answer Key:

1. C) had accumulated

2. B) has been developing

3. C) had

4. C) had

5. A) will have been developing