Boom and Rolls-Royce announce collaboration to advance Overture program
The two leaders of sustainability are exploring the pairing of a propulsion system with Boom’s supersonic airliner.
The supersonic future will be fast and sustainable, thanks in part to the collaboration between Boom and Rolls-Royce. The two have launched a new agreement to advance Overture’s engine program design. As part of the relationship, teams from both organizations will work together to identify a propulsion system that would complement Overture’s airframe.
The announcement has arrived after years of co-locations between Boom and Rolls-Royce and will build upon the significant behind-the-scenes work already completed.
“We’ve had a series of valuable collaborations and co-locations with Rolls-Royce over the past years to lay the groundwork for this next phase of development,” said Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl. “We look forward to building on the progress and rapport that we’ve already built with our collaboration as we work to refine Overture’s design and bring sustainable supersonic transport to passenger travel.”
With plans already underway, both parties expect to make significant progress towards finalizing Overture’s aircraft configuration and propulsion system. In execution, the teams will collaborate in engine-airframe matching activities, examine key aspects of the propulsion system, and investigate whether an existing engine architecture can be adapted for supersonic flight.
Sustainability stands at the cornerstone of this agreement. Both Boom and Rolls-Royce maintain a relentless commitment to the environment and vision for a supersonic zero net carbon future. “We share a strong interest in supersonic flight and in sustainability strategies for aviation with Boom,” said Rolls-Royce Director of Strategy Simon Carlisle. “We’re now building on our valuable experience in this space as well as our previous work together to further match and refine our engine technology for Boom’s Overture.”
More than 50 years ago, Rolls-Royce equipped the world’s first supersonic airliner, Concorde, with four Olympus 593 engines. With today’s significant advancements in sustainable propulsion, design, and fuel, Rolls-Royce and Boom are leading the charge to ensure that the next generation of supersonic benefits not just passengers, but the world.
