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Blake Scholl - The Biggest Failure of Apollo Moon Landing and Concorde Supersonic | SRS #225

2025-08-07 People & Blogs
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Shawn Ryan Show
Shawn Ryan Show
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Learn how an outsider self-taught aerospace engineering to launch Boom Supersonic, successfully challenging decades of regulation to bring back mainstream supersonic travel. Discover the core engineering philosophy required to leapfrog incumbent giants like Boeing and Airbus.

Short Summary

  • Repeal the domestic supersonic flight ban in just 115 days by proving boomless cruise technology was viable.
  • Successfully developed and flew the XB-1 demonstrator jet using primarily proven, non-new science technology.
  • Committed 130 aircraft orders from major carriers (e.g., United, American Airlines) based on the Overture design.
  • This discussion details how to prioritize passion over existing expertise and how modern technology obsoletes established, slow manufacturing supply chains.

Scholl details the journey from his prior tech career to founding Boom, emphasizing a first-principles approach over conventional industry wisdom. This approach allowed the team to solve the sonic boom problem much earlier than anticipated, pivoting the company’s initial strategy.

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Description

Blake Scholl is the Founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, a company he started in 2014 to revive commercial supersonic flight with the Overture airliner, designed to fly at Mach 1.7 and carry 64–80 passengers. A Carnegie Mellon University computer science graduate (BS, 2001), Scholl began his career as a software engineer at Amazon, later owning a $300 million P&L at age 24, and co-founded Kima Labs, acquired by Groupon in 2012. Inspired by seeing Concorde in a museum, he self-taught aerospace engineering to launch Boom, which achieved the first privately developed supersonic flight with the XB-1 demonstrator in January 2025. With orders from United, American, and Japan Airlines, Scholl aims to make sustainable supersonic travel mainstream using 100% sustainable aviation fuel, targeting passenger flights by 2030. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkoujZQZatbqy4KGcgjpVxQ/join Shawn Ryan Show Links SUBSCRIBE: http://www.youtube.com/@ShawnRyanShow Sign up: https://shawnryanshow.com/pages/newsletter Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/VigilanceElite Download Free Content: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lF-8_5jwRc5eAhzDkqqCOp-6yvd05vAw?usp=sharing Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shawn-ryan-show/id1492492083 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5eodRZd3qR9VT1ip1wI7xQ?si=59f9d106e56a4509 Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shawnryanshow Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnryanshow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnryanshow/ Follow on X: https://twitter.com/ShawnRyanShow SRS Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4pqo9Uoh0WuUKxw0BmaK1yrg9Kd7E4lk #vigilanceelite #shawnryanshow Blake Scholl Links: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakescholl X - https://x.com/bscholl Boom Supersonic - https://boomsupersonic.com Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://ROKA.com – USE CODE SRS https://meetfabric.com/shawn https://tryarmra.com/srs https://hillsdale.edu/srs https://trueclassic.com/srs https://USCCA.com/srs 00:00 Welcome & Guest Introduction 00:34 Journey to Boom Supersonic 01:12 Vision for Supersonic Flight 02:58 From Basement Project to Breakthrough 07:14 Early Inspirations & Supersonic Dream 11:55 Challenges, Triumphs & Industry Giants 18:45 The Future of Supersonic Travel 48:01 Aviation Hurdles & Passenger Experience 55:15 Airports, Competitors & Market Challenges 01:03:45 Innovating Beyond Traditional Credentials 01:07:20 First Principles & Engineering Philosophy 01:17:50 Manufacturing & Regulatory Challenges 01:33:06 Boom’s Growth & Competitive Landscape 01:37:09 Supply Chain, 3D Printing & Defense Procurement 01:42:02 Supersonic Commercial Future & Personal Flight 01:47:33 Company Culture & Hiring Strategy 01:52:07 AI, Software & Aerospace Innovation 02:17:05 Vertical Integration & Production Efficiency 02:24:28 Advice for Future Innovators

Top Comments (10)

@jrid1118 2025-08-07

this is seriously the most interesting, educational, relevant channel throughout media.

132 6 replies
@gregkrueger7013 2025-08-09

This innovators series is absolutely a home run. These guys are riveting. Shawn continues to be on the cutting edge of podcasting.

104
@tomh.6261 2025-08-07

I've worked in aerospace for 30 years. He's spot on. I can elaborate on parts ping ponging around. At least for defense, the industry has to spread the work around to as many congressional districts as possible. They need those Congressmen voting for your program. When you give jobs to their constituents, you get that vote.

99 6 replies
@jarraddemaria 2025-08-07

This interview was exceptional thank you Blake for laying it all out there.

92 1 replies
@ShawnRyanShow 2025-08-07

This episode was released early on Patreon AD free, with the exception of Shawn’s personal reads. https://www.patreon.com/VigilanceElite The toll is $5 a month. Supporting us on Patreon and Ad Rev is what enables us to produce the quality content that we have come to love. We strive for perfection with each and every one of these stories. Please enjoy the show!

64 7 replies
@TheMuneebVerse 2025-08-08

One of the most grounded and forward-looking conversations we’ve come across in a long time. Blake’s reflections on the missed momentum after Apollo and Concorde aren’t just critiques—they’re calls to action. The clarity with which he connects historical ambition to present-day inertia is something the tech and creative community deeply needs right now. As a channel focused on storytelling and innovation, we really value conversations like this that blend vision with accountability. Hats off to Blake and Shawn for creating space for meaningful dialogue.

49
@Kate-ps9ho 2025-08-18

This guy is brilliant and inspiring. Could listen to him talk for hours. Great interview, hope you follow up in the future.

33 1 replies
@mchristr 2025-08-07

As a kid living by an Aerospace Defense Command base during the Cold War, I loved to hear sonic booms. The sound of freedom. I hope BOOM surpasses their wildest expectations.

24
@Callsign_Bubblez 2025-08-08

This is the best interview podcast I have seen in a while. This was nothing but amazing

13
@professorzoom7800 2025-08-08

i love that he gifts gummy bears and gets the coolest shit back 😂

6 1 replies

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