Boom Supersonic has acquired a former hypersonic engine testing facility at Colorado Air and Space Port (CASP) to serve as the dedicated testing site for its Symphony engine. The move represents a major step in Boom’s transition from engine design to hardware testing for its Overture supersonic airliner.
Symphony is a medium-bypass turbofan engine specifically designed for sustained supersonic flight. It is expected to produce 35,000 pounds of thrust at takeoff and sustain cruise speeds of Mach 1.7. The engine’s core — measuring 12 feet in length and 4 feet in diameter — comprises a high-pressure compressor, combustor, and turbine, critical for achieving efficient and reliable performance.
The facility, located about 35 miles from Boom’s Denver headquarters, will undergo $3–5 million in upgrades in 2025. Planned improvements include enhancements to safety systems, construction of a fuel farm, and installation of a new control room and advanced data acquisition systems. Prototype engine core testing is slated to begin later this year.
Building on Reaction Engines’ groundwork for next-generation propulsion
Previously, the site was operated by UK-based Reaction Engines, which successfully tested its precooler hypersonic technology there in August 2024, achieving sustained Mach 3.5 conditions during ground tests. However, Reaction Engines entered administration just two months later following funding challenges. “We were sad to see them go last year but are excited to continue on the legacy of innovating to build things that enable a faster future,” commented Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl.
The Symphony engine is being developed with several partners: Florida Turbine Technologies is leading design, GE Aerospace subsidiary Colibrium Additive is advising on additive manufacturing, and StandardAero will assemble the engines in San Antonio, Texas.
Boom’s Overture airliner, which has secured 130 orders and pre-orders from major carriers including United Airlines, American Airlines, and Japan Airlines, is expected to enter service later this decade.
