# Boom Supersonic Pivots to AI Data Center Power Amid Delivery Delays The aerospace firm shifts focus toward natural gas turbines as supersonic airliner timelines face skepticism. - **Source:** [Ars Technica - All content](https://brifing.si/source/b728770c-8dda-457a-8986-84879c9fc42c) - **Published:** 2026-10-30 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/f4020b88-4007-4b6b-803a-6d5bbd57e711 ## Strategic Pivot to Energy Boom Supersonic is diversifying its operations by launching a Colorado facility dedicated to producing 42-megawatt natural gas turbines for AI data centers. CEO Blake Scholl frames this as a renaissance in energy and flight, despite the company facing significant skepticism regarding its primary goal of delivering the Overture supersonic airliner by 2029. ## Airliner Timeline Under Scrutiny United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby publicly questioned Boom's 2029 delivery target during an October 2026 podcast interview. Kirby, whose airline holds a conditional purchase agreement, stated that the timeline is unrealistic and that the company faces numerous certification hurdles. He previously estimated the chances of commercial service entry at only fifty percent. ## Dormant Aerospace Infrastructure The company's production facility at Piedmont Triad International Airport in North Carolina has remained largely dormant since its completion in 2024. This inactivity has drawn scrutiny from state officials, who provided over $50 million in taxpayer funding to support the project, raising concerns about the actual progress of the Overture airliner manufacturing program. ## Regulatory and Technical Context Boom previously gained momentum through successful XB-1 demonstrator flights in 2024 and 2025, testing a boomless cruise concept using the Mach cutoff phenomenon. Furthermore, the Trump administration has actively supported the company by proposing rules to overturn long-standing bans on commercial supersonic flights over the United States, aiming to facilitate future operations. ## Data Center Market Entry Boom aims to deliver its Superpower turbines to data center clients by mid-2027, targeting an annual production capacity of 50 units by 2029. This move aligns with broader industry trends where tech firms increasingly rely on natural gas to power energy-intensive AI infrastructure, often utilizing aeroderivative turbines originally designed for military or aviation use. ## Loss of Key Contracts Despite the pivot, Boom recently lost a significant $1.25 billion deal with developer Crusoe, which would have involved the purchase of 29 gas turbines. CEO Blake Scholl confirmed the loss on X in September 2026, though he maintained that the company still expects to deliver approximately 250 megawatts of power to other undisclosed clients. ## Synergy Through Sprint Core The company claims its turbine development is synergistic, utilizing a prototype core called Sprint Core intended for both the Superpower gas turbine and the Symphony engine for the Overture airliner. Testing of this core is scheduled at the Colorado Air Space Port, with the first firing expected to occur before the Thanksgiving holiday period. ## Future Operational Challenges Boom stands at a critical juncture where it must prove the viability of two distinct high-stakes ventures simultaneously. While the turbine project offers a potential revenue stream, the company remains under pressure to demonstrate technical progress on its core aerospace mission, as investors and airline partners continue to monitor the feasibility of its ambitious goals. ## Sources covering this story - https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/10/united-airlines-ceo-doubts-supersonic-airliner-from-boom-will-be-ready-by-2029/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._