A United Airlines pilot based in Minneapolis, known on YouTube as 'My Layover Life,' was given a behind-the-scenes tour of Boom Supersonic’s headquarters in Colorado during a work trip.

The visit included meetings with Boom personnel, including chief test pilot Tristan Brandenburg, and provided an opportunity to learn about the company's efforts to bring commercial supersonic passenger travel back to the aviation industry.A major focus of the tour was the XB-1 demonstrator aircraft, an experimental jet that recently surpassed the speed of sound.Although the XB-1 is not intended for passenger service, it serves as a testing platform for Boom’s planned Overture airliner.The company aims for Overture to become the first commercial supersonic passenger aircraft since the retirement of Concorde in 2003.

During the visit, the pilot explored the technology behind supersonic flight, including methods designed to reduce the impact of sonic booms on communities below.He was also invited to fly a sophisticated simulator that replicated the experience of operating a supersonic aircraft.

In the simulator, he accelerated beyond Mach 1, performed a supersonic aileron roll, and learned about unique design features, including a camera-based landing system that compensates for limited forward visibility during landing.

The experience concluded with a demonstration of Boom’s future Overture flight simulator, allowing the pilot to virtually fly the proposed passenger jet and land it at London Heathrow Airport.

The visit provided a practical look at the technologies being developed to potentially reintroduce faster-than-sound commercial travel on long-distance international routes.