Pilot for ‘son of Concorde’ plane that can fly from London to New York in 3.5 hours issues update after test flight
The test pilot for the airliner dubbed ‘son of Concorde’ has given an insight into what it's like to fly the plane for the first time.
Created by Boom Sonic, the XB-1 prototype model - which is expecting to help prepare the company's Overture commercial jet line - hopes to make long-haul flights a thing of the past.
It's already been a long time in the making, with the design first being unveiled in 2016 and numerous tests having been conducted from 2017.
And just this month, it was revealed that the plane had entered the final stages of testing and was set to take to the skies by the end of this year.
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However, the jet has since been flown twice - with test pilot Tristan ‘Geppetto’ Brandenburg taking the helm.
The tests on the plane happened in Mojave Desert, California which saw the craft reach altitudes of 10,400ft and a top speed of 232 knots (that’s 277 mph to you and me) and flew for approximately 15 minutes, according to a press release.
And Geppetto explained in an exclusive interview with The Sun that it was a thrilling experience to pilot the XB-1 jet.
He said: "The first time I went to land on an aircraft carrier, I had a hard time sleeping that night, and I also got nervous for some of the important flights for my qualifications.
"Interestingly though, I wasn’t really that nervous for the flights in the XB-1. I knew the team I was working with, I knew the air.
"I know this aeroplane better than any aeroplane I've ever flown.”
He added that he was a ' little bit nervous' before taking flight in the jet, adding: "This aeroplane's only ever flown for 12 minutes so far, this is a brand new aeroplane'.
"All of those things were frantically going through my head and then he [chase pilot] calls for my brake release.
"I relieve the brakes and the throttle is going into full afterburner, I can feel the acceleration and then it’s like ‘Oh okay, I know how to do this!
"This is what I’ve been training for, this is what I’ve been waiting for."
Geppetto also added that not only will it be better for passengers, but also for pilots as he says the short flight times will allow them to spend more times with their families.
He also claims that it will also be good value for money - despite the airline only including business class seats, which Geppetto compared to the business class experience on a Boeing 777.
"If you have the option of choosing business class on a wide body jet that takes 6 hours to get somewhere or a comparable fare where you spend half as much time in the air, I would choose the one that got me there faster." he said.
But he isn't the only one happy with the progress as Boom Sonic CEO and founder, Blake Scholl, said in a press release following their second flight on 26 August: "XB-1 had a fantastic second flight this morning.
"Initial results indicate we’ve successfully resolved the findings from Flight One and are excited to continue flight testing on the path to supersonic flight.
"I’m proud of the team. Today’s flight is another step toward the return of supersonic passenger travel.”
The XB-1 plane is currently being used for test flights before Boom reveals the actual plane that’ll be used for the 3.5 journeys, The Sun reports - and Geppetto will be manning the controls for the remainder of its trial run.
The outlet further says that a round trip from London to NYC on the Overture is expected to cost $5,000 (£3,823) in comparison to the Concorde, which would have its passengers pay $20,000 (£15,293) today in light of inflation.
Topics: Technology, Travel
Britt Jones