TECHNOLOGY
XB-1 PROTOTYPE ACES ITS SECOND TET FLIGHT
WORDS ANDREW JONES
Colorado-based company Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft flew for the second time ever on 26 August 2024. The flight took place from California’s Mojave Air and Space Port and lasted about 15 minutes. It saw the XB-1 reach an altitude of 3,170 metres and a speed of 277 miles per hour. The flight demonstrated landing gear being retracted and extended for the first time, and a new digital stabilityaugmentation system was tested to improve handling.