Boom Supersonic completes construction of Overture superfactory
June 25, 2024
Aerospace company Boom Supersonic, based in Denver, Colorado, USA, marked the completion of construction on its Overture Superfactory with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 17, 2024. Located at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, the Overture Superfactory is the first supersonic airliner factory in the United States. The assembly line is where Boom will build its supersonic airliner, Overture.
“Construction of the Overture Superfactory represents a major milestone toward ensuring the United States’ continued leadership in aerospace manufacturing,” said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic. “Supersonic flight will transform air travel, and Overture provides a much-needed innovative alternative for airlines across the globe.”
Hundreds of millions of passengers will fly supersonic on aircraft produced at the Overture Superfactory. The first assembly line has the capacity to produce 33 Overture aircraft per year, valued at more than $6 billion. Boom plans to build an additional assembly line, scaling to produce 66 supersonic airliners annually. The Overture Superfactory campus will also include a delivery centre where airlines including United, American, and Japan Airlines will receive their supersonic aircraft.
The Superfactory will play a vital role in securing America’s continued leadership in aerospace manufacturing, and is expected to contribute more than $32B to North Carolina’s economy and create 2,400 jobs over the next 20 years.
“As the state that was first in flight, North Carolina is excited to see Boom’s progress toward delivering the world’s first sustainable supersonic airliner,” stated Governor Roy Cooper. “Our state has the skilled workforce, infrastructure and perfect location to help Boom revolutionise air travel.”
“The Piedmont Triad region is an economic powerhouse, helping solidify North Carolina’s place as the top state for business. Boom’s Overture Superfactory, which will produce a paradigm-changing airliner, showcases the new and innovative projects that are bringing jobs and investment here,” said North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger.
Built by BE&K and designed by BRPH, the Overture Superfactory will be LEED certified and is expected to be at least 40% more energy efficient compared to similar manufacturing facilities. In addition to prioritising sustainable products, the facility will integrate urban heat mitigation materials, high-efficiency LED lighting, and water conservation systems to reduce energy and water consumption.
With the building now complete, Boom will focus on operationalising the production floor, which includes designing and implementing assembly stations, and finalising processes for materials movement and drilling. In partnership with tooling supplier Advanced Integration Technology (AIT), Boom will begin procuring and installing tooling into the Superfactory, beginning with an advanced test cell unit. As the first major piece of equipment to be installed, the test cell will be used to develop manufacturing processes, optimise the flow of the assembly line, and prepare staff for Overture production.
“We look forward to Boom’s success in its mission to bring back commercial supersonic flight and help the US maintain its leadership in aviation innovation,” Paul Mengert, Chair of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority, shared. “We’re grateful for our partnership with the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, elected leaders, and the local community who will continue to give Boom a warm welcome to the Triad.”
“North Carolina is well known for being ‘First in Flight’ – and with the completion of Boom’s Overture Superfactory, we’re also now first in supersonic flight,” said NC Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “This is another major step forward in Boom’s vision for sustainable supersonic flight, and another step forward in North Carolina’s ‘First in Talent’ goal of providing a clean energy future that creates jobs, reduces harmful emissions and protects our environment.”
“With companies like Boom Supersonic, the Triad continues to lead the way in the new age of American manufacturing,” said Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-06). “Boom Supersonic’s Overture Superfactory will bring good-paying jobs to the Sixth District, add billions to the state economy, and boost American global competitiveness through innovative, cutting-edge technology. I’m thrilled to see North Carolina continue to live up to its rich aviation legacy with the first supersonic airliner factory in the United States.”
The construction completion event comes shortly after the inaugural flight of XB-1, the supersonic demonstrator aircraft for Overture, which represents a major milestone toward the return of supersonic air travel. XB-1 has received a first-of-its-kind Special Flight Authorization (SFA) to Exceed Mach 1 from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The XB-1 flight test program continues to progress in Mojave, California, and will confirm the aircraft’s performance and handling qualities up to and through supersonic speeds.
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