Days after the U.S. Air Force let SBIR contracts to startups Exosonic and Hermeus for potential Air Force One (and other executive use), Boom Supersonic announced it has similarly been tabbed to develop its upcoming Overture supersonic aircraft for that same role. Boom may have a strategic leg up in this competition as its XB-1, called “Baby Boom,” is slated to roll out next month and begin test flights in 2021. Both the Exosonic and Hermeus programs, with help from the USAF’s AFWERX program, are still in the early design phase.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/boom-enters-supersonic-air-force-one-race