Minneapolis pilot gets rare look at United Airlines' future supersonic airliner and even gets to try its simulator

A Minneapolis-based United Airlines pilot got a rare behind-the-scenes look at the airline’s potential future supersonic airliner thanks to a high-tech simulator.

During a visit to Boom Supersonic’s headquarters in Colorado, he was given access to the company’s cutting-edge aircraft development program and even got the chance to fly a simulator.

The experience included a virtual trip beyond the speed of sound and a glimpse into what commercial air travel could look like in the coming years.

And after stepping inside both the demonstrator aircraft and the simulator, he walked away seriously impressed.

Minneapolis pilot gets rare look at United Airlines’ future supersonic airliner

Pilot and YouTuber Paul, who is based in Minneapolis and flies airplanes for United Airlines, documented the visit as part of a work trip that took him through Denver before operating a flight to Dublin, Ireland.

While in Colorado, the YouTuber who posts videos under the name ‘My Layover Life’ stopped by Boom Supersonic’s headquarters and met with the company’s chief test pilot, Tristan Brandenburg.

The visit centered around the XB-1, Boom’s experimental demonstrator aircraft that successfully broke the sound barrier earlier this year.

Although passengers won’t ever fly on the XB-1 itself, the aircraft is helping pave the way for Boom’s future passenger jet, the Overture.

The company hopes Overture will become the first commercial supersonic airliner since Concorde was retired in 2003.

Boom says the aircraft will fly at nearly twice the speed of sound, potentially cutting journey times dramatically.

Routes such as New York to Frankfurt could take just over four hours, while Los Angeles to Sydney could be completed in less than nine hours.

During the tour, Brandenburg explained some of the technology behind supersonic flight and how atmospheric conditions can help prevent sonic booms from reaching the ground.

He got to fly beyond Mach 1 in a simulator

Of course, the highlight of the visit came when Paul was invited into the simulator.

After climbing into the virtual cockpit, he accelerated through Mach 1 and experienced what it would be like to fly a supersonic aircraft.

As the simulator passed through the sound barrier, Brandenburg pointed out that the aircraft actually feels more comfortable at supersonic speeds than below them.

Things became even more exciting when Paul was encouraged to perform a supersonic aileron roll.

He also learned about one of the aircraft’s most unusual features.

Because the nose points so high during landing, pilots rely on cameras mounted near the nose wheel instead of looking directly out at the runway.

The experience didn’t stop there.

Paul was later shown the simulator for Boom’s future Overture passenger jet, giving him a glimpse of what flying United’s proposed next-generation supersonic aircraft could eventually feel like.

After landing the virtual airliner at London Heathrow, he described the visit as a fascinating look at the future of commercial aviation.

For now, Overture remains in development, but if Boom’s plans become reality, passengers could once again be crossing oceans at supersonic speeds.