Boom Supersonic, the company building the world's fastest and most sustainable supersonic airliner, today announced it has selected the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina as the site of its first full-scale manufacturing facility.
The Overture Superfactory will be a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, including the final assembly line, test facility, and customer delivery center for the Overture supersonic airliner. Carrying 65 to 88 passengers, Overture is capable of flying on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at twice the speed of today's fastest passenger jets. For example, flights onboard Overture will shrink travel time to less than four hours from New York to London.
North Carolina offers Boom an optimal location for its manufacturing facility thanks to its strong aerospace workforce, which includes a large number of U.S. military veterans. Through 2030, the Overture Superfactory campus: - Will create 1,761 jobs with average salaries of $68,792
- Bring an investment of more than $500 million
- Will grow the state’s economy by at least $32.3 billion over 20 years
- To develop the next generation of supersonic professionals, Boom will also create 200 internships through 2032 for students who attend publicly funded North Carolina universities, community colleges, or technical schools.
PTI faced heavy competition for the Boom Supersonic project from multiple airports. The North Carolina legislature approved $106.7 million for improvements at PTI to help secure the aerospace manufacturer. These improvements include the construction of the initial building, site work and access roads.
The state has also approved an $87.3 million Jobs Development Investment Grant (JDIG) for the company, which will receive the grant funding only if it meets employment and investment goals set out by the state. Under the terms of the grant, the company will invest $500 million by 2030.
"It is both poetic and logical that Boom Supersonic would choose the state that’s first in flight for its first manufacturing plant," said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. "Like the success of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina this innovative company will succeed by transforming passenger air travel with speed and sustainable energy.”
Boom expects to break ground later this year on the Overture Superfactory and will begin production in 2024. The first Overture aircraft is slated to roll out in 2025, fly in 2026, and carry its first passengers by 2029. Commercial interest in Overture, including orders and options, totals $14 billion from United Airlines and Japan Airlines. Boom is also working with the United States Air Force on government applications of the aircraft. |
