Dubai Airshow: Building a new supersonic airliner

Blake Scholl is at the Dubai Airshow trying to woo investors and Middle East airlines to back his ambition to once again make breaking the sound barrier commercially viable. Scholl, founder and CE of Denver-based Boom Supersonic, already has 76 pre-orders from airlines and says he is talking to another 20 carriers. The former Amazon executive is convinced that new technology, composite materials and quieter, more efficient engines, makes a return of supersonic flight possible. Scholl's business plan estimates a market for 1,000 to 2,000 Boom aircraft over the next 10 years, with the first aircraft entering service in 2023. The first test flight of a one-third-scale demonstrator is scheduled to take place in 2018. It will be a key step in the design and approval process - and help bring in more investment. <br/>