THE 'Son of Concorde' XB-1 jet is set to take off on its inaugural supersonic flight next week, where it will break the sound barrier for the first time. It is thought to be the first US-built commercial supersonic jet to exist, according to the company behind the jet.
![[XB-1 supersonic jet taking off over the Mojave Desert.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pilot-tristan-geppetto-brandenburg-tests-932219615.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Bosses at Colorado-based Boom Technology have announced that the aircraft will hit supersonic speeds during a livestream on 28 January at 6:45am PST/ 9:45am EST/ 2:45pm GMT. However, as with every test flight or launch, the date and time is weather dependent.
![[A test pilot prepares for a supersonic flight.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/q-chief-test-pilot-tristan-965228546.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The XB-1 will be followed by a chase plane, the T-38, so viewers can watch the moment the XB-1 reaches Mach 1 - which is about 767mph. During its previous two test flights, the aircraft has been able to reach Mach 0.95 - what's known as "transonic" speeds.
![[Boom Supersonic's XB-1 supersonic aircraft taxiing on a runway.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/q-chief-test-pilot-tristan-965228507_044f43.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Mach 1 and above is when a jet can be classed as supersonic. Chief test pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, who has headed XB-1's previous test flights, will be the man inside the cockpit when the next-generation aircraft breaks the sound barrier.
![[Test pilot in supersonic aircraft cockpit.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/q-chief-test-pilot-tristan-965228406.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The aircraft has so far been authorised to fly in two airspaces: the Bell X-1 Supersonic Corridor and the Black Mountain Supersonic Corridor near Edwards Air Force Base in Mojave, California. It's the same airspace where Chuck Yeager became the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound in 1947, in his Bell X-1 plane.
