Boom Supersonic has unveiled a factory in Colorado dedicated to manufacturing gas turbines for artificial intelligence data centers. At the same time, the timeline for its future supersonic aircraft, the Overture, is being called into question by some of its early backers. CEO Blake Scholl stated: ‘it is time for a renaissance in energy and supersonic flight.’
- Boom Supersonic opens a Colorado factory that makes gas turbines for AI data centers.
- United Airlines’ CEO doubts the Overture will arrive in 2029 as planned.
- The FAA proposes lifting the ban on commercial supersonic flights over U.S. territory.
- American Airlines, Japan Airlines and United Airlines have signed conditional agreements to buy the Overture.
A Timeline Challenged by an Early Customer
Among the company’s early customers is United Airlines, whose CEO, Scott Kirby, doubts the first Overture will be delivered in 2029, as outlined in Boom’s original plan. He spoke during an interview aired on October 28, 2026, on the podcast Office Hours: Business Edition, hosted by Monica Langley. ‘2029 is their official timeline,’ he said. ‘It’s not going to happen in 2029, it will take longer.’
Boom made a name for itself by flying its XB-1 demonstrator in 2024 and 2025. The aircraft was intended to demonstrate the concept of ‘boomless cruise,’ which exploits the phenomenon of Mach cutoff. This flight involves flying just beyond supersonic speed, at high altitude and under precise atmospheric conditions, so that shock waves refract upward and reduce their impact on the ground.
Regulatory Support and Conditional Commitments
The project benefits from support from the Trump administration, which has made numerous efforts to relax regulations. In June 2026, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed a new rule that would lift the long-standing ban on commercial supersonic flights over U.S. territory. This proposal follows a presidential executive order signed by Donald Trump.
In its press releases, Boom has previously described obtaining certification for its aircraft and welcoming its first paying passengers by 2029. The company has entered into conditional agreements with American Airlines, Japan Airlines, and United Airlines. These agreements call for non-refundable deposits, the amounts of which have not been disclosed, and would allow the airlines to fully purchase the Overture once it becomes commercially available.
