Boom Supersonic has flown XB-1 demonstrator, the world’s first privately developed faster-than-sound civil aircraft.

This week’s Flight Friday looks at the return of Asia-Pacific region operators (excluding China and India) to pre-pandemic levels of utilization.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

FAA revises type certification basis for eVTOLs, beginning with Joby

The aging aircraft’s final deployment measures air quality in Asia as researchers lament lack of space in its replacement, a Boeing 777-200.

CFO Brian West told a Bank of America investor conference that Boeing would buy back Spirit using cash and debt; Boeing ended 2023 with almost $16 billion.

The company is working on changing long-established priorities that valued speed over quality.

Fuel systems for hydrogen; 3D printing on the Moon; LH2 tank breakthrough; the cost of avoiding contrails; and Velis Electro approved for training.