United pilot Paul Holte got rare hands-on access to Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 and Overture simulators, offering a glimpse into the future of high-speed air travel.
Minneapolis-based United Airlines pilot and YouTuber Paul Holte recently gained rare access to Boom Supersonic’s development program in Colorado.
In a new video, the pilot showed how he was allowed hands-on time with a simulator for the company’s XB-1 demonstrator aircraft and its planned Overture passenger jet.
The Layover Life YouTuber visits Boom Supersonic
Holte, who flies for United and runs the YouTube channel “My Layover Life,” visited Boom Supersonic’s facilities during a layover in Denver. While there, he met Boom’s chief test pilot, Tristan Brandenburg, and toured the program built around the XB-1 demonstrator aircraft.
Earlier this year, the XB-1 demonstrator broke the sound barrier for the first time. The XB-1 serves as a testbed for the larger Overture, which is intended as the first commercial supersonic airliner since Concorde’s retirement in 2003.
Boom aims for the Overture to cruise at nearly Mach 2—roughly twice the speed of sound. This capability would slash transatlantic and transpacific flight times. At that speed, New York to Frankfurt could take just over four hours, while Los Angeles to Sydney might require less than nine hours. United Airlines has expressed interest in the aircraft as part of its future fleet plans.
In the video Holte was allowed a session in the XB-1 simulator. During the test, he accelerated through Mach 1, experiencing the transition to supersonic flight. He also performed a supersonic aileron roll.
In conversation with Holte, Brandenburg explained technical aspects of supersonic flight, including how specific atmospheric conditions can limit sonic boom effects on the ground. Boom is working on refining its technologies to meet regulatory requirements for overland supersonic operations.
Surprisingly, according to Brandenburg, who flew the XB-1 demonstrator when it broke the sound barrier, the aircraft feels smoother and more comfortable above the sound barrier than below it.
Simulations highlight Boom’s unique pilot experience
One distinctive design feature stood out to Holte during his simulation session. As the experienced pilot pointed out, because the Overture’s nose sits high during landing, pilots will have to use cameras near the nose wheel rather than direct forward visibility for runway alignment.
Holte also tested the Overture passenger jet simulator, landing a virtual flight at London Heathrow.
The XB-1 itself will not carry passengers, but Boom is carefully poring over its flight data to inform Overture’s design. Development of the Overture aircraft is ongoing, with no firm entry-into-service date announced.
If successful, the program could restore supersonic commercial travel for the first time in over two decades.
According to Holte, the experience was a compelling preview of aviation’s next chapter. The guided tour provided the pilot and YouTuber with a rare glimpse into a growing push to overcome the technical, economic, and regulatory barriers that grounded the iconic Concorde airliner.
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Chris Young is a journalist, copywriter, blogger and tech geek at heart who’s reported on the likes of the Mobile World Congress, written for Lifehack, The Culture Trip, Flydoscope and some of the world’s biggest tech companies, including NEC and Thales, about robots, satellites and other world-changing innovations.