In spite of all obstacles, including those below, Boom Supersonic just announced major milestones in the development of its Overture SST aircraft and the Symphony engine at this week’s Farnborough International Airshow. This news is exciting for Hawaii travelers, as the advancements promise to potentially transform long-haul flights to the islands, drastically reducing travel time.
1. Reinventing the flight deck.
Boom unveiled an entirely new flight deck for the Overture airliner, which it said resulted from extensive research and feedback from pilots across various the aviation industry. The new cockpit design aims to enhance both safety and efficiency, paving the way for a smoother and more reliable flights, and a safer supersonic travel experience.
2. Big progress on the Symphony supersonic engine.
Boom’s Symphony engine is also making significant progress in two area, first, with hardware testing currently underway. Over 30 rig tests are in progress, and the development of a full-scale engine core is expected to be operational in 2025. The Symphony engine is pivotal to Overture’s supersonic speed, which could potentially cut travel time to Hawaii in half.
StandardAero has also been selected as the partner that will perform the Symphony engine assembly and testing at its San Antonio, Texas facility. That company is a leading independent gas turbine engine and accessories maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility. In terms of credibility, StandardAero has an extensive airline client base that is said to include Southwest Airlines and Mesa Airlines among others.
The production line is now expected to be capable of scaling up to 330 engines annually, indicating Boom’s readiness to meet its anticipated high demand and make supersonic travel accessible.
3. Implications for Hawaii flights.
For frequent travelers to Hawaii, Boom could mean significantly shorter flight times, enhancing convenience and comfort. The ability to travel from the mainland U.S. to Hawaii in a fraction of the current time could open up new possibilities for Hawaii tourism, making the islands more accessible than previously possible.
Boom Supersonic’s progress continues to make headlines. For a deeper dive into their journey and its implications for Hawaii travel, check out some of our previous articles:
As Boom Supersonic continues to move towards becoming a reality, Beat of Hawaii will continue to follow developments that will specifically impact travel to and from the islands. Stay tuned for more on this possibly revolutionary change in Hawaii flights.
Airlines with flights to Hawaii have already signed on.
Boom Supersonic has received interest from Hawaii-centric United Airlines, American Airlines, and Japan Airlines. United Airlines has stated that Boom’s vision for the future of commercial aviation will offer a stellar flight experience for its customers. American Airlines is also committed to the venture, placing deposits on 20 Overture aircraft. They, too, have expressed excitement about how supersonic travel will shape the future of air travel for their customers. More than 30 Overture airliners have been ordered as of last year, signaling strong market confidence in the return of supersonic flights.
Boom Supersonic is being met with both enthusiasm and skepticism.
Concerns about supersonic travel primarily revolve around the environmental impact, particularly the sonic booms, which can be highly disruptive and damaging to communities on the ground and will thus limit the potential for use over the continental U.S. There are also environmental concerns about the emissions of supersonic aircraft which could potentially harm the ozone layer.
Not only are there technological and environmental concerns, but the cost is another huge obstacle. While no one knows yet what a one-way ticket between, say, Los Angeles and Honolulu might cost, we’ll guestimate a current-day cost of perhaps $5,000.
Your prior feedback so far on Boom Supersonic Hawaii flights.
Comments from you have been mixed, reflecting both optimism and caution from the Beat of Hawaii community. Enthusiasts highlight the transformative potential of significantly reduced flight times between the mainland U.S. and Hawaii, which could revolutionize travel.
For instance, Courtney commented on the significant time reduction, stating, “I sure would I’d rather do that than fly 8 hours from Sacramento to Hawaii…”
However, others, like DICKIE_D, pointed to the economic and environmental drawbacks, mentioning, “SST commercial flights = costs in the extreme — targeted passengers are mostly high-end business/first-class pax — limited or no supersonic flights over the USA — noise, and more noise in and around airports requiring $$$ for much larger noise zones.”
These contrasting perspectives speak to an ongoing debate about whether the benefits of supersonic travel will outweigh its challenges and costs.
Are you excited to consider flying to Hawaii at supersonic speed?
