Boom Technology unveiled its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator in Denver on Tuesday, and said they aim to build the fastest-ever civilian aircraft, with a cruise speed of Mach 2.2. Boom is working with Virgin Galactic's The Spaceship Company to build and test the XB-1. The demonstrator is "a technically representative 1/3-scale version of the production Boom airliner," the company said. First flight for the demonstrator is expected late next year, said Blake Scholl, CEO and founder of Boom. "Sixty years after the dawn of the jet age, we're still flying at 1960s speeds," said Scholl. "Concorde's designers didn't have the technology for affordable supersonic travel, but now we do." Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, said he has an option on Boom's first 10 airplanes.
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