Jets are a focal point of travel. They are incredibly fast and have the ability to transport lots of people in a short amount of time. A new type of jet engine is in development to cut the time of travel in half.

Supersonic jet engines are essentially a hybrid between a rocket thruster and typical small-jet engine in design. Typical commercial jet engines are subsonic, meaning they are designed to fly under the speed of sound. Supersonic engines are designed to break the sound barrier, meaning they need to break speeds of 343 meters per second. This is common in military aircraft, yet its introduction to the commercial market is still relatively new. 

Supersonic engines are lightweight, easy to manufacture, and reliable. These engines are also much more sustainable than the typical commercial jet liners, as they will be traveling for less time. Supersonic jets travel 20% faster over land and 200% faster over water than commercial jet liners, greatly reducing transcontinental travel times. 

Boom is the company pioneering the construction of these liners. They recently released a jet by the name of Overture. Overture has many high-tech developments on board, starting with the engine. Patented under the name Symphony, this supersonic engine was developed specifically for Overture. With 35,000 of thrust per engine and 25% longer of a lifetime than commercial engines, the engines are a clear step ahead.

Yet Symphony isn’t the only innovative aspect of Overture. The fuselage is contorted to allow the best possible airflow. This reduces the induced drag, meaning the plane is more fuel efficient and hence more sustainable. 

One of the most sustainable planes on the market, Overture uses the most sustainable aviation fuel on the market. The company is also net zero carbon emissions in both the production and operation of their jets. With gull wings designed to limit the sound pollution and dampers on the engines, Overture is designed to be as quiet as possible. This is to help limit any potential noise pollution.

Overture has already made it onto the market. It has been approved by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) for commercial use. American Airlines plans to buy 20 jets from them for use in the upcoming years. Delta is also considering the idea. Within the next few years, supersonic planes will be a feature of travel and may just become normalcy.