A supersonic jet built by Boom Technology broke the sound barrier for the first time Tuesday, advancing its bid to resurrect high-speed passenger flights.

About 35,000 feet (10,670 meters) over the Mojave Desert, northwest of Los Angeles, Boom Supersonic's XB-1 became the first privately funded airplane to break the sound barrier during a test flight on Tuesday.

Colorado-based Boom Supersonic plans to build the Overture airliner, which it says will carry as many as 80 passengers while moving at about twice the speed of today’s subsonic airliners.