Boom Supersonic selects North Carolina for its Aircraft Superfactory

Boom Supersonic, the company building a modern supersonic airliner, plans to build the Overture Superfactory that will serve as its primary manufacturing and production site in Greensboro, North Carolina. The new facility, which will be located at Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI), builds upon the state’s storied legacy of aerospace innovation, starting with the Wright Brothers’ first successful flight in Kitty Hawk, Honda Aircraft Company’s world headquarters and HondaJet manufacturing operation in Greensboro, and Pratt & Whitney’s advanced casting foundry and airfoil production facility in Asheville.

“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 Gov. Roy Cooper. “Like the success of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, this innovative company will succeed by transforming passenger air travel with speed and sustainable energy.”

The project will bring an investment of more than $500 million through 2030 at the site.

The Overture Superfactory site was chosen with air and ground space ready for development in mind along with its proximity to the coast, as well as North Carolina’s plentiful and skilled workforce and world-class infrastructure. The PTI location includes 65 acres for the company’s manufacturing needs. In addition to the size requirements, the PTI site offers easy connectivity to Interstates 85 and 40, and a short drive to more than 400 aerospace suppliers spread across the state.

“Selecting the site for Overture manufacturing is a significant step forward in bringing sustainable supersonic air travel to passengers and airlines,” said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic. “With some of the country’s best and brightest aviation talent, key suppliers, and the state of North Carolina’s continued support, Boom is confident that Greensboro will emerge as the world’s supersonic manufacturing hub.”

Boom plans to break ground on its facility later this year and begin production in 2024. The Overture Superfactory is forecast to create more than 1,750 new jobs by 2030, expanding to a total of more than 2,400 jobs by 2032. The average salary at the facility is projected to be $68,792. North Carolina economists estimate that the Overture Superfactory will grow the state’s economy by at least $32.3 billion throughout 20 years.

Founded on the principles of speed, safety, and sustainability, Boom is reimagining supersonic flight thanks to advancements in aerodynamics, materials, and propulsion. Overture will fly at subsonic speeds over land and near coasts to avoid exposing people on the ground to sonic booms. Over the ocean, Overture will cruise at supersonic speeds, cutting many flight times in half while offering a tranquil travel experience for passengers. Boom’s Overture aircraft will meet the same regulatory noise levels currently required of subsonic aircraft during take-off and landing. Overture is designed to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuels, and it is being developed with responsible manufacturing processes and aircraft end-of-life recycling in mind. Additionally, the Greensboro assembly line will be LEED-certified.

Overture’s order book, including purchases and options, stands at 70 aircraft, and Boom is working with the United States Air Force for government applications of Overture. The Boom XB-1 demonstrator aircraft rolled out in 2020, and its carbon neutral flight test program is underway. The company is backed by world-class investors, including Bessemer Venture Partners, Prime Movers Lab, Emerson Collective and American Express Ventures.

Partnering with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority, among other state and local partners.

Superfactory

• The 65-acre location will house the final assembly line, testing facility, and customer delivery center
• The first Overture aircraft to roll off the Superfactory is planned for 2025. Subsonic test flights at the Piedmont Triad International Airport to follow in 2026
• The Overture Superfactory will employ more than 2,400 workers, bringing an estimated $32.3 billion in economic impact to North Carolina throughout the next 20 years