Boom Supersonic, the US-based company looking to build the world’s fastest airliner has announced a new engine alliance led by the company.
Together, the partners will develop a propufalsion system called Symphony, designed and optimised for the Overture supersonic airliner. The Boom-led collaboration brings together Florida Turbine Technologies (FTT) for engine design, GE Additive for additive technology design consulting, and StandardAero for maintenance.
“Developing a supersonic engine specifically for Overture offers by far the best value proposition for our customers,” said Blake Scholl, Founder and CEO, Boom Supersonic. Through the Symphony programme, Scholl said “we can provide our customers with an economically and environmentally sustainable supersonic airplane — a combination unattainable with the current constraints of derivative engines and industry norms.”
Symphony will be a medium-bypass turbofan engine with the same basic engine architecture that currently powers all modern commercial aircraft. However, the new propulsion system will include a Boom-designed axisymmetric supersonic intake, a variable-geometry low-noise exhaust nozzle, and a passively cooled high-pressure turbine.
There is no afterburner in the twin-spool, medium-bypass turbofan engine, which is slated to deliver 35,000 lbs of thrust at take-off. Boom also says the engine will be optimised for 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
According to Boom, when compared to derivative approaches, the Symphony is expected to deliver a 25% increase in time on wing and significantly lower engine maintenance costs, reducing overall airplane operating costs for airline customers by 10%.
Notably, the company is designing a Mach 1.7 (1,000 kn; 1,800 km/h), 65-88-passenger supersonic airliner. The Boom Overture airliner is planned to have a range of 4,250 nmi (7,870 km) and is expected to be introduced in 2025.
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