Boom XB-1 Test Flight Went Supersonic, With iPhone and Starlink Helping Livestream the Moment

The debut supersonic flight by Boom Supersonic happened earlier this week, and the company showcased how its XB-1 test aircraft achieved a humongous feat using its jet-powered American flyer. However, what makes this test flight more incredible is its use of an Apple iPhone and SpaceX's Starlink to stream the event live for all to see, treating the world with a significant experience right from the cockpit.

It took Boom Supersonic plenty of years to achieve its debut test flight, centering on this world's first civil supersonic jet made in the US, and also marking its place as an independent developer of these types of jets.

Boom Supersonic's XB-1 Test Flight Went Supersonic in a World-First

Boom Supersonic announced that its recent test flight with the experimental civil jet, XB-1, has achieved supersonic speeds for the first time, and it accelerated to Mach 1.122 speeds (750 miles per hour). It was a historical feat for the independently developed jet, making it the first to break the sound barrier after 11 human-piloted test flights since its inaugural flight in March 2024.

"XB-1's supersonic flight demonstrates that the technology for passenger supersonic flight has arrived," said Blake Scholl, Boom's founder and CEO.

The company developed the XB-1 based on the Overture concept airliner from Boom Supersonic which features carbon fiber composites, digital stability augmentation, and an AR vision system for landing.

Boom XB-1 Was Captured by an iPhone and Starlink For All To See

According to SpaceExplored, the Boom XB-1 test flight was accompanied by two chase planes including the Mirage F1 which carried IMAX cameras, and the T-38 which was tasked to document the flight. The team had problems fitting the T-38 with the technology to properly capture the XB-1's historic moment as its cockpit does not allow for large equipment to be used.

With this, Boom Supersonic utilized SpaceX's Starlink Mini terminal which was small enough to fit in the aircraft, and tested it using a Mazda Miata before installing the device on the T-38.

Next up, they also required a camera that was powerful enough to capture the entire mission, and the team turned to a smartphone with one of the top-rated lenses in the industry, the Apple iPhone. However, Boom Supersonic did not mention what model of the iPhone was used in the flight.

With the pairing of the iPhone and Starlink, the team was able to successfully capture XB-1's historic flight and the moments it went supersonic.

Supersonic Flights and The Future of This Type of Transportation

Achieving supersonic speeds is no easy feat, particularly as it requires monstrous power to be able to break through the sound barrier which is categorized by the Mach speeds, and these aircraft need to achieve 761 miles per hour at sea level or Mach 1. That being said, there had been plenty of efforts toward developing supersonic aircraft, with NASA and Virgin Galactic previously partnering to make it happen.

The possibilities are endless for supersonic flights, particularly as it can allow pilots and passengers to travel from New York to Shanghai, China in only 40 minutes if these vehicles can achieve Mach 1. That being said, Boom Supersonic has been persistent over the years with their American-made civil supersonic jet, and last year it was given the permit to fly at Mach speeds, courtesy of the FAA.

However, it is important to note that these supersonic aircraft are still jet-sized bodies, and it is far from creating passenger aircraft that can break the sound barrier and offer these ludicrous speeds for transatlantic flights and others. That being said, Boom Supersonic is already making history with its experimental XB-1 as it recently achieved legitimate Mach speeds, and its 'breaking the sound barrier' moment was captured in only an iPhone connected to Starlink which gave the world a spectacle.