
Sir Richard Branson is set to order 10 supersonic jets, which the manufacturer claims will herald a new era of 'affordable' supersonic travel.

The airline tycoon has confirmed that Virgin has options to buy 10 of the recently revealed supersonic Boom jets, which will be capable of flying at 1,451mph - about 100mph faster than Concorde - and reaching New York from London in three and a half hours.

The Boom jet is being built by former Amazon executive Blake Scholl, who is putting a prototype of Boom together in a Colorado aircraft hangar.

Sir Richard Branson is set to order 10 supersonic jets, which the manufacturer claims will herald a new era of 'affordable' supersonic travel. The airline tycoon has confirmed that Virgin has options to buy 10 of the recently revealed supersonic Boom jets

The firm hopes London to New York could be one of its most popular routes, with a 3.6 hour saving on a normal flight

Virgin said it hopes to help with the manufacturing and testing process.

It told MailOnline Travel: 'Richard has long expressed interest in developing high speed flight and building high-speed flight R&D through Virgin Galactic and our manufacturing organization, The Spaceship Company.

'We can confirm that The Spaceship Company will provide engineering, design and manufacturing services, flight tests and operations and that we have an option on the first 10 airframes. It is still early days and just the start of what you'll hear about our shared ambitions and efforts.'

Scholl said: 'We're thrilled to be working with Virgin. It's hard to imagine a better partner for bringing supersonics to market.'

When created Boom will have 40 seats - with a ticket costing $5,000 (£3,540).

Speaking to Bloomberg, Scholl, 35, said: 'The idea is for a plane that goes faster than any other passenger plane built before, but for the same price as business class.'

The plane will be built using a carbon-fibre composite instead of aluminium, and the firm says it simulates millions of designs each day.

A mockup of the craft at Heathrow - its founders hope it will use existing airports once tests are complete

Scholl said about 500 routes fit the craft's market, including a five-hour trip from San Francisco to Tokyo and a six-hour flight from Los Angeles to Sydney

SUPERSONIC SPECS The plane will be built using a carbon-fiber composite instead of aluminum to save weight. 40 seats will be split into two single-seat rows, so everybody has a window and an aisle. Boom's plane will cruise at 60,000 feet, where passengers will be able to see the curvature of the earth. Advertisement

According to the simulations, Boom's design is quieter and 30 percent more efficient than the Concorde.

It will be split into two single-seat rows, so everybody has a window and an aisle.

To reduce weight, the seats are of the standard domestic first-class variety, so no lay-down beds.

To cut flight time, Boom's plane will cruise at 60,000 feet, where passengers will be able to see the curvature of the earth, while going 2.6 times faster than other passenger planes.

Scholl said about 500 routes fit the craft's market, including a five-hour trip from San Francisco to Tokyo and a six-hour flight from Los Angeles to Sydney.

'Boom was founded on the philosophy that we need to overcome the challenges to supersonic passenger flight, not surrender to them,' the firm says.

The firm hopes London to New York could be one of its most popular routes, with a 3.6 hour saving on a normal flight.

The first test flights will occur at Centennial Airport in Denver, with supersonic testing near Edwards Air Force Base in California

The firm even has record breaking US Astronaut Scott Kelly as an advisor and the craft will be built using carbon fibre, with standard jet engines.

It added: 'We're making a supersonic aircraft affordable for business travel. Our ultimate goal is routine supersonic flight for everyone.'

'At our hangar in Denver, we're combining jet engines and carbon fibre, advanced design software and wind tunnel tests.

'We're building our prototype now - and will fly late next year.'

The first test flights will occur at Centennial Airport in Denver, with supersonic testing near Edwards Air Force Base in California.

'Today, international travel means jet-lag and days of lost productivity and family time. But imagine leaving New York in the morning, making afternoon meetings in London, and being home to tuck your kids into bed.

'Unlike Concorde, flying Boom is affordable - the same price as business class.'