5 Supersonic Passenger Aircraft: Canceled, Completed & Planned

A supersonic aircraft can fly at a speed greater than sound speed (Mach 1). As of 2024, only two supersonic commercial aircraft have been put into service and both have retired (Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144 - the Soviet's flawed Concorde challenger). Safety and issues surrounding the sonic boom have made creating commercially viable supersonic airliners difficult. However, more supersonic aircraft are in development now (with Boom leading the charge).

1 Boeing 2707

The Boeing 2707 was the greatest supersonic passenger jet never made

It may seem uncharacteristic for the United States to let the Europeans (with Concorde) and the Soviets (with the Tu-144) get ahead. However, Boeing had its own American supersonic passenger airliner project in the 1960s called the Boeing 2707. The Boeing 2707 was the American answer to Concorde and was intended to be much larger and faster than Concorde.

The Boeing 2707's design allowed seating for 250 to 300 passengers. Boeing states it would have had a cruise of speed of Mach 2.7 at an altitude of over 60,000 feet. The project was plagued with rising costs and the lack of a clear market (although 26 airlines ordered 122 of the planes). Eventually, it was canceled in 1971 before any prototypes had been completed.

2 Concorde

Concorde was the world's first supersonic passenger jet to enter service & flew transatlantic routes for 25 years

Concorde is perhaps the most famous supersonic passenger jet and remains a household name. A joint project between the French company, Sud Aviation and the British company, British Aircraft Corporation, Concorde remains a source of pride for Ango-French aviation engineering. Concorde's origins trace back to 1954. Its first flight took place in 1969 in France.

At the time, it was thought the market would require 350 aircraft, but in the end, the only customers were British Airways and Air France with only 20 Concordes built. It was hampered by the lack of air routes (only transoceanic flights) as sonic booms were not permitted over land. Still, the National Air and Space Museum notes Concorde flew 17,824 hours over a period of 25 years ferrying thousands of passengers across the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound.

3 Tupolev Tu-144

The Tu-144 was the flawed Soviet supersonic jet that crashed as its flight show

The Soviets were not to be outdone by their Western counterparts, and so they raced to build their own commercial supersonic aircraft - the Tupolev Tu-144. The Tu-144 took to the skies on its maiden flight just months before the Anglo-French Concorde. As history would have it, the Tu-144 was even less of a commercial success than Concorde. Only 16 aircraft were built, and they conducted only 102 commercial flights (of which only 55 actually carried passengers).

The Tu-144 got off to a bad start when the first Tu-144S production airliner crashed at the Paris Air Show in 1973 (another crashed in 1978). It commenced commercial passenger flights in 1977, but the 1978 crash proved the final straw for the Tu-144 and it ceased to be flown as a passenger aircraft. Instead, it flew as a cargo plane until it was canceled in 1983. It found an epilogue being used for training in the Soviet Space Program and flew its final flight in 1999.

4 Boom Overture

The Overture is planned to enter service in 2029, beginning with United Airlines

The age of supersonic travel may return with the Boom Overture's development. According to Boom, it will be a slower and smaller aircraft than previous supersonic passenger jets with a cruising speed of Mach 1.7 and a capacity of 64 to 80 passengers, depending on its configuration. Boom claims there are 600+ profitable routes, and United Airlines has announced that it will purchase 15 of the Boom Overture airliners, with an option for 35 more.

This year (2024) is projected to be the year that the Overture Superfactory (the final assembly line for the Boom Overture) is expected to be completed. It is hoped that the Overture will start carrying passengers in 2029 and fly on 100% sustainable aviation fuel.

5 Spike Diplomat Supersonic Business Jet

Spike's supersonic jet will be a 12 to 18-seat luxury business jet

Spike Diplomat Supersonic Business Jet is another supersonic passenger jet in development. What sets Spike Aerospace's supersonic jet apart from the other aircraft on this list is that it is a business jet. The Spike jet is designed for long-haul flights for business and private travelers willing to pay a premium to cut flight times by more than 50%.

If built, Spike's website states that it will fly at Mach 1.6 (500 mph faster than any other civilian jet) and carry 12 to 18 passengers. Its design does not have passenger windows; instead, it will be built with cameras that offer external views. The interior is planned to be plush and luxurious with ample space for its limited number of passengers.