The world of supersonic flight, once defined by the legendary Concorde, is once again in the spotlight - this time by the innovative startup Boom Supersonic. Dedicated to reviving commercial supersonic air travel, the company is catching the public's eye not only with the promise of impressive speeds, but also through a creative design competition program. With the aim of making the new Overture supersonic aircraft unique and eye-catching, Boom Supersonic has launched an open competition to find original liveries for its machines.
The dream of supersonic flight is not new, but the Concorde, which began service in the 1970s, remains synonymous with the luxury and speed of the future. After the Concorde retired from commercial service in 2003, the dream of supersonic flight seemed to have failed for the time being. But Boom Supersonic, founded in 2014, has set itself the goal of putting supersonic flight back on the commercial agenda. With its planned aircraft, the Overture, the company aims to take passengers to their destinations faster than ever before - at speeds of up to Mach 1,7.
The design competition: A call for creativity
To shape the Overture's visual identity, Boom Supersonic has launched an open design competition. The competition offers an exciting opportunity for designers and creative minds worldwide to get involved in shaping the revolutionary aircraft. There are four main categories in which designs can be submitted:
- Top Speed: This category highlights the impressive speeds of the Overture and is designed to visually capture the dynamics and speed of the aircraft.
- Retro look: Inspired by the “Golden Age of Aviation” in the 50s, 60s and 70s, this design is intended to reflect the nostalgic charm and flair of early aviation history.
- Runway Ready: The focus here is on elegance and style. Designs in this category are intended to emphasize the luxurious and modern aesthetic of the Overture.
- Most Original: There are no limits to creativity in this collecting category. The most unusual and original designs have a chance to win.
Entrants can either create their designs digitally or design the templates by hand. To ensure that all those interested in designing have access to the competition, Boom Supersonic is providing a blank template for download. Designs can be submitted until August 26, 2024, and winners will be announced no later than September 10, 2024. Each winner will receive a 1:125 scale model of the Overture aircraft, along with a fully rendered image of the design.
Progress at Boom Supersonic
Boom Supersonic recently unveiled significant progress at the 2024 Farnborough Air Show. The company unveiled a new flight deck for the Overture model and reported progress on the Symphony engine, which is critical for supersonic flight. New suppliers such as ATI and Universal Avionics have also been brought on board as partners for the project. These advances show that the company is not only active in the design phase, but is also working on the technical realization of the project.
Reactions to the design competition and Boom Supersonic's progress have been mixed. The public and the aviation industry have shown great interest in the company's innovative approaches. Experts and enthusiasts are excited to see how the designers' ideas will be integrated into the final design of the Overture. At the same time, the feasibility of the plans and the commercial implementation of the supersonic aircraft are being viewed critically. The development of a supersonic aircraft presents significant technological and economic challenges, and it remains to be seen how Boom Supersonic will overcome them.