Big Compute Podcast: Boom Supersonic – Pushing Boundaries in Aerospace Design

In a Big Compute Podcast episode, host Gabriel Broner interviews Josh Krall, co-founder and VP of Technology at Boom Supersonic, about the company's use of high-performance computing (HPC) in the cloud to design Overture, a passenger supersonic plane. Boom aims to overcome the economic and technical challenges that derailed the Concorde by offering a more efficient and affordable aircraft, utilizing modern materials and propulsion systems. The company leverages cloud-based HPC to perform extensive simulations, facilitating rapid design iterations and enabling engineers to manage complex aerodynamic challenges more efficiently. Krall discusses the benefits and challenges of using cloud resources, emphasizing the flexibility and scalability they provide, which are crucial for a startup like Boom. The company plans to test its supersonic demonstrator aircraft, XB1, by the end of the year, with a focus on refining the design of the planned 55-seat airliner, Overture, expected to be in service by the mid-2020s. The podcast highlights Boom's innovative approach to supersonic travel, aiming to reduce flight times and redefine global connectivity, while also addressing the economic viability that the Concorde lacked.