#225 Blake Scholl - Founder & CEO of Boom Supersonic

Blake Scholl’s ambition and passion for supersonic flight fueled his unconventional journey in founding Boom Supersonic, despite lacking a traditional aerospace background.

Blake Scholl's Unconventional Path to Founding Boom Supersonic

Blake Scholl, guided by his love for aviation, launched Boom Supersonic in 2014 to revolutionize supersonic air travel. He is a self-taught leader, having earned his private pilot's license in 2008 and an instrument rating in 2011.

Scholl, Lacking Formal Aerospace Training, Was Passionate About Aviation and Supersonic Flight

Scholl had no formal aerospace education prior to founding Boom Supersonic. His fascination with flight started during a college flying lesson and was reinforced by his admiration for the Concorde and SR-71 Blackbird during his museum visits. Despite his mother's concerns and his own initial doubts, he undertook self-study in calculus, physics, and airplane design to better understand the industry he was passionate about.

Furthermore, he credits Amazon, his first job out of school he had, and his time working at startups that led him to Groupon, for instilling in him the importance of scaling businesses.

Scholl's Inspiration and Motivations For Starting Boom Supersonic

Inspired by Concorde's legacy, Blake Scholl aspired to create a more accessible and affordable supersonic travel solution. His determination was such that he set up a Google Alert for 'Supersonic Jet' in hopes of being abreast of any new developments in the field.

Scholl Pursued His Vision Despite Skepticism

Faced with skepticis ...

Boom Supersonic reveals a number of technical breakthroughs and a unique approach to manufacturing in the quest to revive and modernize supersonic flight.

Boom's Approach To Solving the Sonic Boom Challenge

Boom Supersonic has developed proprietary technology aimed at mitigating the disruptive effects of sonic booms, which has historically been a major barrier to supersonic flight over land.

Boom's "Boomless Cruise" Tech Enables Supersonic Jets to Break Sound Barrier Silently

Blake Scholl introduces Boom's "Boomless Cruise" technology, a key innovation that allows their supersonic jets to break the sound barrier without an audible sonic boom reaching the ground. The XB-1 has conducted supersonic test flights, breaking the sound barrier six times, confirmed by ground microphones, and achieving a "boomless" state. Scholl compares the sonic boom to the wake of a boat, explaining how software and current weather data help determine the correct speed and altitude to ensure no boom reaches the ground. On February 10th, the day of their second supersonic flight with the XB-1, Scholl announced this breakthrough technology.

Breakthrough Enabled Overturning Supersonic Flight Ban Over Land

Initially designing their aircraft for transoceanic flights only, Boom discovered what they call "mock cutoff," a phenomenon where the sonic boom doesn't reach the ground. The discovery of a sonic boom solution, achieved after developing their own engines and numerous engineering meetings, led to the realization that their Overture airliner could fly at high altitudes without causing sonic booms on the ground, which ultimately played a role in the legalization of supersonic flight over land by the president.

Boom's Focus on Vertical Integration and In-house Manufacturing

Boom Supersonic is distinguishing itself from traditional aerospace firms by emphasizing in-house production, particularly of critical components like engines, to maintain tighter control of design and production.

Boom exploits the advantages of vertical integration and in-house manufacturing, as Blake Scholl stresses the importance of having innovative processes under one roof. By designing their airplane and engine together, Boom has created a specific cabin design that is a factor of their innovation. Scholl mentions that building ...

Boom Technology is making significant headway in the development of supersonic aircraft, signaling a new era of high-speed air travel.

Boom's Successful Testing of the Xb-1 Supersonic Demonstrator

Xb-1 Breaks Sound Barrier Silently, Proving Boom's Tech Viability

During test flights, Boom's XB-1 supersonic demonstrator successfully reached Mach 1.18, breaking the sound barrier without the loud noise typically associated with supersonic flight. Scholl explains his experience going supersonic in a fighter trainer, indicating the airplane’s capabilities. Boom conducted a second successful supersonic flight test proving their "boomless cruise" technology. Additionally, Scholl presented a keepsake to Shawn Ryan that had flown on the first silent supersonic flight, highlighting the XB-1's successful testing and demonstrating the viability of Boom's technology.

Boom's Overture Supersonic Airliner Plans

Overture Flies at Mach 1.7 Over Water, Halving Flight Times

The Overture airliner is Boom’s commercial offering set to fly at Mach 1.7 over water, potentially reducing traditional flight times by half. Scholl compares the planned Overture to Tesla’s approach with the Roadster and Model S, envisioning an evolution that starts with an all-business class model and progresses toward greater affordability. Scholl has ambitious plans for a larger, second-generation airplane, with the goal of making supersonic flight economically feasible for the average traveler.

Boom Secures 130+ Overture Pre-orders From United and American Airlines

The company has secured over 130 pre-orders for the Overture from major airlines, with United Airlines making the first order with a non-refundable deposit, American Airlines signing up for up to 60 planes, and Japan Airlines being the first to place a pre-order. Boom's business plan targets transoceanic routes that don't have speed limits, promising much quicker flights ...

Blake Scholl, the founder of Boom Supersonic, has experienced skepticism and regulatory challenges in his quest to revive and advance supersonic commercial flight.

Overcoming Skepticism and Lack of Support

Scholl faced considerable skepticism not only from within but also from potential supporters when starting Boom.

Scholl Convinced Early Employees and Investors to Believe In Boom's Plan

Initially doubting his own project, Blake Scholl lacked the courage to pursue supersonic technology, considering an alternative path of starting an airline. However, he overcame challenges with his ego to convince early employees and investors of his vision. Scholl acknowledges his initial doubts on day one, reflecting the monumental effort it took to get others to believe in Boom Supersonic. Despite a time when they were unfundable, he and his team persevered, managing to overcome initial skepticism and lack of support.

His friends showed doubt, which mirrored broader disbelief, including that from industry veterans. Scholl experienced skepticism from individuals like Evicii Garg, who initially thought Scholl was crazy, highlighting the doubts he had to overcome.

Moreover, there was skepticism about Boom being able to fulfill its promise of supersonic flight, evidenced by the historical context of Concorde's high costs and small market. The skepticism from seasoned veterans about the feasibility of a startup like Boom was grounded in the previous rise and fall of similar technology in established companies.

Veterans Doubted Boom's Startup Success, Scholl Faced

Scholl hints at industry politics, speculating about Boeing possibly lobbying for an aircraft speed limit to block competitors after losing government funding, which suggests maneuvering around market competition posed by established corporations.

Navigating a Complex and Heavily Regulated Industry

Boom's journey is also marked by navigating the complexities of a heavily regulated industry.

Boom Collaborated With the FAA For Supersonic Flight Approval

While the collaboration with the FAA for flight approval isn't explicitly mentioned, Scholl discussed his proactive approach after announcing "boomless cruise" technology. He visited Washington, D.C., to lobby, leading to an invitation to the White House. Scholl educated Congress, FAA officials, and White House personnel on the technology's capability to fly supersonically without an audible sonic boom. He asserts Boom has worked well with the FAA, notably never experiencing a regulatory delay on XB1, indicating effective communication and cooperation for regulatory compliance.

Boom Encountered Permitting Delays and Restrictive Regulations When Establishing Manufacturing Facilities

Boom's path to establishing manufactu ...

Blake Scholl, with a fresh perspective on aerospace and manufacturing, shares his belief about reindustrializing America, innovating the manufacturing process, and making supersonic flight accessible to more people.

Scholl's Belief In Reindustrializing and Reinventing American Manufacturing

Scholl articulates a strong conviction in reindustrializing and reimagining American manufacturing, suggesting a shift away from traditional practices towards more efficient, software-driven approaches. He emphasizes the need to focus on in-house manufacturing processes, like 3D printing turbine blades, to innovate and excel in aerospace and manufacturing. Scholl exemplifies this with Boom Supersonic's use of digital engineering and production equipment for in-house manufacturing. He envisions a reinvention of American manufacturing that is lean on tools but heavy on software, automation, and robotics.

Scholl's View on Boeing and Airbus' Innovation Lack

Scholl is critical of Boeing and Airbus for their lack of innovation, noting that they haven't produced a completely new airliner since 2004, focusing instead on incremental improvements. He indicates that Boeing is attempting to regain its ability to produce its existing aircraft confidently, suffering from a short-term financial strategy that undermines long-term innovation. Scholl believes that these giants are unlikely to change their business models to compete with Boom's supersonic technology, which he views as an application of the innovator's dilemma.

Scholl's Goal: Making Supersonic Flight Accessible to More

Beyond simply creating faster jets, Scholl desires to democr ...