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The plane that could fly you faster than ever

Boom Supersonic envisions paying passengers traveling again at supersonic speeds in a new aircraft scheduled to fly in 2023.

Kent German
Kent was a senior managing editor at CNET News. A veteran of CNET since 2003, he reviewed the first iPhone and worked in both the London and San Francisco offices. When not working, he's planning his next vacation, walking his dog or watching planes land at the airport (yes, really).
Kent German
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Boom Supersonic's aircraft would sport a delta wing like the Concorde, but fly slightly faster for a far cheaper fare. At Mach 2.2, the flight time between New York and London would be three hours, 15 minutes.

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Though Boom originally announced the passenger airliner last November, it showed a model at the 2017 Paris Air Show. Boom says it has orders for 76 aircraft from five unnamed airlines. 

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A seat on Boom's aircraft would be much like a typical business class seat that you'd find today. Each passenger would have a work table, a larger personal screen, overhead storage and a large window.

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The passenger cabin would have just one seat on either side of the aisle. The Boom Passenger Airliner would carry between 45 to 55 people.

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Roundtrip fares could be as low as $5,000 for a transatlantic flight. That's not cheap for a family vacation to Europe, but it wouldn't be a problem for a globetrotting exec with an expense account. 

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Boom has tested a model of the aircraft in a wind tunnel. 

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In preparation for the airliner's scheduled first flight in 2023, Boom will operate a smaller, but similarly designed, aircraft on test flights. The XB-1 should take to the skies for the first time later this year.

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Like the Boom passenger airliner, the XB-1 will be made of carbon fiber and fly on three engines at Mach 2.2 (1,451 miles per hour or 2,335 km per hour).

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