Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast Welcome to Supersonic week! Will passengers ever break the sound barrier again?
Jan 12, 2026
Blake Scholl, the founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, advocates for the revival of commercial supersonic flight, succeeding Concorde. He dives into the historical context of why supersonic travel stalled after Concorde, attributing it to a 1972 U.S. ban. Scholl offers intriguing insights on how technology can now mitigate sonic booms using innovative software and weather data. Through his vision, he discusses how new flight paths could reshape aviation's future, enhancing speed and efficiency while minimizing noise.
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Supersonic Ban Stifled Aviation Progress
- The US ban on supersonic flight halted aerospace speed innovation and talent flow for decades.
- Blake Scholl argues this policy caused a generation to avoid aviation careers, weakening companies like Boeing.
Sonic Boom Is The Main Regulatory Barrier
- Sonic boom over land has been the primary policy obstacle to supersonic flight.
- Blake Scholl claims sonic boom is solvable and that regulatory bans were excessive or misdirected.
Use Weather Data To Avoid Sonic Booms
- Use realtime weather data plus flight algorithms to plan supersonic trajectories that avoid ground booms.
- Blake Scholl says altitude and speed adjustments let the boom bend upward so nobody hears it.