But while the successful test flight of XB-1 shows that supersonic flight without sonic booms is technically feasible, the next phase is making it economically feasible. Right now, both subsonic and sonic boom-producing supersonic travel are cheaper than using this Mach cutoff method.

It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and a recent photo released by NASA in conjunction with Boom Supersonic shows just how remarkable capturing a moment can be. Boom Supersonic is currently building the world’s fastest airliner,

Boom Supersonic and NASA just dropped an incredible photo of the XB-1 breaking the sound barrier over the Mojave Desert. Using Schlieren photography, they captured air distortions that are usually invisible to the naked eye.