Boom Supersonic has announced Symphony, a propulsion system designed and optimised for its Overture supersonic airliner. It will be teaming with Florida Turbine Technologies (FTT) for engine design, GE Additive for additive technology design consulting and StandardAero for maintenance.

Symphony design is already under way. Production is set to commence in 2024 at Overture's Superfactory in Greensboro, NC, with rollout in 2026, first flight in 2027, and type certification in 2029.

Symphony will be a bespoke design but will leverage proven technologies and materials to operate at net zero carbon and meet Chapter 14 noise levels. When compared to derivative approaches, Boom says that Symphony is expected to deliver a 25% increase in time on wing and significantly lower engine maintenance costs, reducing overall aircraft operating costs for airline customers by 10%.

Boom has selected Florida Turbine Technologies, a business unit of Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, Inc, as its engine design team. FTT has leading supersonic engine design expertise, including key engineers among the team responsible for the design of the F-119 and F-135 supersonic engines that power the F-22 and F-35.

Symphony will be a medium-bypass turbofan engine with the same basic engine architecture that currently powers all modern commercial aircraft. Unlike subsonic turbofans, this new propulsion system will include a Boom-designed axisymmetric supersonic intake, a variable-geometry low-noise exhaust nozzle, and a passively cooled high-pressure turbine.

The twin-spool, medium-bypass turbofan engine, with no afterburner will have 35,000lbs thrust at takeoff, will be optimised for 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel , have a single-stage fan designed for quiet operation, passively cooled high-pressure turbine, and will use additive manufacturing for low weight, low part count, and reduced assembly costs.

“The team at FTT has a decades-long history of developing innovative, high-performance propulsion solutions,” says Stacey Rock, president of Florida Turbine Technologies. “We are proud to team with Boom and its Symphony partners and look forward to developing the first bespoke engine for sustainable, economical supersonic flight.”

GE Additive will collaborate on the Symphony program, applying its proven track record of designing additively manufactured engine components, enabling more streamlined development, reduced weight and improved fuel efficiency.

“We are excited to support Overture and Symphony,” says Chris Schuppe, general manager engineering and technology at GE Additive. “GE Additive will bring industry-leading capabilities to Symphony, providing additive manufacturing design consulting and technology, while looking for additional areas to potentially collaborate.”