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Boom’s XB-1 jet breaks the sound barrier for the first time

It's the first time a civilian plane has flown faster than the speed of sound while over the United States.

Boom, the startup developing a new generation of supersonic aircraft, has achieved a major milestone after its test plane broke the sound barrier for the first time. In the background, the company has been signing deals with major airlines including United and American, to supply passenger jets for civilian service. This craft, dubbed Overture, has a planned top speed of Mach 1.7 — equivalent of 1,305 miles per hour — which would cut existing travel times in half.

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