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In a remarkable display of technological innovation and high-profile personalities, President Donald Trump was recently photographed holding a model of a groundbreaking supersonic airliner, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk making a subtle appearance in the mirror behind him.
The aircraft in question is the Overture, presented by Boom Technology’s CEO during a White House visit. This ambitious project aims to become the first supersonic passenger plane since the Concorde’s retirement in 2003, with service expected to begin in 2029.
This is the Boeing plane that Trump toured today in Palm Beach, checking out the new tech: pic.twitter.com/0EFFejPfvw
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) February 15, 2025
The project recently achieved a significant milestone when its one-third scale prototype, the XB-1, successfully reached Mach 1.12 over California without creating a sonic boom on the ground. This breakthrough addresses a crucial challenge that limited the Concorde’s utility, as supersonic planes traditionally produce powerful shockwaves that can damage infrastructure.
Boom CEO Blake Scholl explained the science behind this achievement: “When an aircraft breaks the sound barrier at a sufficiently high altitude, the boom refracts in the atmosphere and curls upward without reaching the ground. It makes a U-turn before anyone can hear it.”
After a second successful test flight on February 10, Scholl expressed mixed emotions about the XB-1’s retirement: “Building XB-1 took a whole lot of never giving up. I feel sad she’ll never fly again. But a few more years of not giving up and we will have something even more majestic in our skies.”
Trump is touring a new Boeing plane to see the new hardware and tech.
The WH says: "this highlights the project’s failure to deliver a new Air Force One on time as promised, as they are already 5 years late." pic.twitter.com/vTS29C81Pt
— Bernd Debusmann Jr (@BernieDebusmann) February 15, 2025
The project has already garnered significant commercial interest, with 130 pre-orders from major airlines including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, and United Airlines. Scholl has even suggested that Boom could build the next Air Force One, prompting him to post on X: “Air Force One should be supersonic. Xi can keep his 747-8.”
Musk’s involvement extends beyond his mirror appearance. As Chair of the Department of Government Efficiency, he supported Scholl’s call to revisit outdated regulations on supersonic flight, stating: “This administration will get rid of all regulations that make no sense, like this one.”
While Donald Trump may not experience supersonic presidential travel, the success of the XB-1 suggests his successors might have that opportunity, marking a new era in aviation history.
