Rolls-Royce quits Overture supersonic aircraft project due to financial problems

The British company Rolls-Royce has announced that it is no longer developing an engine for the supersonic Overture aircraft.

Here's What We Know

The reason was the financial problems of Rolls-Royce. In August the British manufacturer reported a loss of $127 million for the first half of 2022. The company says it has ended its work with Boom Supersonic.

Rolls-Royce believes that the supersonic airliner market is not a priority right now. As a result, the company is ending its participation in the Overture program. Rolls-Royce and Boom Supersonic began working together in mid-2020.

The hypersonic airliner is expected to start carrying passengers in 2029. American Airlines plans to buy 20 planes worth $26 billion. General Electric and Pratt & Whitney are now the main contenders to develop the engine.

The Overture will undergo its first flight tests by the end of 2022. The commercial version of the airliner will be able to reach speeds of up to Mach 1.7 (2,100 km/h). According to the manufacturer, the flight from New York to London will take 3.5 hours.

Source: Airways Magazine