Boom Eyes Supersonic Business Jets With NBAA-BACE Debut
October 14, 2025
Boom Supersonic made its first appearance at the National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), signalling ambitions beyond commercial airliners and toward potential applications in business aviation.
The company’s debut at NBAA-BACE comes amid renewed momentum in supersonic policy and standards development, including ICAO’s work on supersonic noise rules and new U.S. policy on overland supersonic flight.
XB-1 milestone and Boomless Cruise
The timing of Boom’s attendance at NBAA-BACE reflects its accomplishments in the program as well as more favourable conditions for supersonic flight, both commercially and privately. In a statement to AGN, a Boom spokesperson said:
“Earlier this year, Boom’s supersonic demonstrator aircraft, XB-1, broke the sound barrier six times without creating an audible sonic boom. With the success of the XB-1 flight test program, Boom announced Boomless Cruise for the Overture airliner, which allows for supersonic speeds without an audible sonic boom that reaches the ground. Boomless Cruise enables flights up to 50% faster over land and 2X faster over water on the Overture supersonic airliner.”
Boom sees opportunities in the supersonic U.S. policy shift
Boom’s Boomless Cruise concept has drawn policy interest as U.S. lawmakers filed a bipartisan bill to authorise “quiet supersonic flight.” President Trump signed an executive order directing the FAA to repeal the 52-year-old ban on supersonic flight over land (14 CFR 91.817). These are part of an initiative to update noise-based standards and remove regulatory barriers to supersonic flights.
“Lifting the ban drives innovation in supersonic travel, not only for commercial but also for business jets focused primarily on overland routes, and we are supportive of unlocking innovation and competition in the space,” the Boom spokesperson said. “This is important for the U.S. to maintain its global leadership in aerospace innovation. There is overlapping demand with passengers whose time is valuable, and who want supersonic for both coast-to-coast and overseas travel.”
Alongside U.S. policy, ICAO’s work on standards for future civil supersonics are helping to shape certification pathways for supersonic flights.
“A supersonic business jet absolutely should exist”
At NBAA-BACE, Boom outlined its intentions for the business aviation sector. Boom would serve as either a technology supplier or a manufacturer.
“Now that supersonic flight will be allowed over the U.S., a supersonic business jet absolutely should exist,” the Boom spokesperson said. “Boom would gladly provide our Boomless Cruise technology and our Symphony engines to anyone making a supersonic business jet. We hope someone does — if not, we’ll consider making a supersonic business jet ourselves once the Overture airliner enters service.”
A return to supersonic flight presents as many challenges as it does opportunities. However, quiet supersonic flight over land makes coast-to-coast missions viable for time-sensitive private jet owners, and enabling supersonic flights overseas would also appeal to those with global business interests. It is a new market opportunity that business jet OEMs will need to consider.
