Aircraft

JetZero's ultra-efficient blended wing demonstrator cleared for takeoff

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Concept art of JertZero's blended wing aircraft, a demonstrator of which has just been awarded an Airworthiness Certificate by the FAA
JetZero
Concept art of JertZero's blended wing aircraft, a demonstrator of which has just been awarded an Airworthiness Certificate by the FAA
JetZero
JetZero's engineers stand alongside the 12.5% scale demonstrator
JetZero

The basic shape of a passenger jet hasn’t really changed much for decades, but radical new shapes are inching closer to production. JetZero has announced that its beautiful blended-wing demonstrator has been FAA-approved to begin test flights.

A blended wing plane is exactly what it sounds like – the fuselage and the wings blend together into a sleek shape that’s a cross between a regular airliner and a flying wing. The more aerodynamic design, in which basically everything is a lift surface, drastically boosts its fuel efficiency, with JetZero claiming its blended wing would use 50% less than a standard jet.

That extra fuel efficiency would be huge. It'd cut running costs substantially, and it could open up longer-range transcontinental hops. The benefits could be even more valuable if this concept was combined with clean aviation powertrains like battery-electric, hydrogen or ammonia-fuelled concepts, where range is still a key impediment to widespread adoption.

Oh, and as a bonus, the blended wing design gives you much more room for cargo and passengers, which is a win for anyone who’s ever staggered stiff-legged off a long-haul flight. Or, more likely, it's a win for airline operators, who will be able to squeeze more malodorous armrest-hoggers and screaming babies into the plane with you.

Last year, JetZero announced that it was working with the US Air Force, NASA and the FAA to get its blended wing airliner into service by 2030, and in August it followed that up with the news of an Air Force contract to build a prototype by 2027.

JetZero's engineers stand alongside the 12.5% scale demonstrator
JetZero

Now, it's a step closer to those goals. The company announced via LinkedIn that the FAA has granted an Airworthiness Certificate to its smaller-scale demonstrator. Known as the Pathfinder, this model packs a 23-ft (7-m) wingspan, making it just 12.5% the scale of the full size aircraft.

“Now let’s go fly!” The post finishes, so hopefully it won’t be too long before we see some footage of this thing in the sky. And given the flurry of activity lately from Airbus to Zeroavia and everyone in between, maybe the blended wing’s time has finally come and we’ll be enjoying the extra legroom within a decade.

Check out a video below.

Source: JetZero via LinkedIn

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8 comments
Robt
Airbus and Boeing have been looking at this configuration for decades, and their scale models look virtually identical to this one.
There are significant issues with the internal layouts of blended wing body aircraft if it is for passengers. The primary one being evacuation in the event of an emergency, which would be a logistical nightmare, and could not possibly meet current FAA regulations.
General boarding and deplaning won’t be easy either.
For cargo, it may work, but I seriously doubt the fuel saving claim; most studies have tended to show a potential 25% improvement which is not insignificant, but isn’t 50% either.
guzmanchinky
I would just hate to be in the middle with no windows nearby. But I guess that's already the case for the people in the middle of a widebody 747 or 380...
Ben84ll5
When going green, you have to produce MORE CO2 for plants, no?
-dphiBbydt
I wonder what it will be like for passengers sitting in the seats furthest from the central axis of the fuselage? In a steep banking turn they are going to experience some significant roll action.
anthony88
Looks like 3 large doors forward of the wing. Angled-parking might be the way to access all 3. If they go back to the 727, they could possibly build in a couple of airstairs, like on the Boeing 727 or DC-9. Also, if their air tanker has 2 hoses coming from the ends of the wings, they can refuel 2 planes at once. Bigger roof windows would be nice.
Global
Nature's ahead again, more "bird profile" than just a tube with wings.
Eggster
It's good to see that others have already pointed out the issues this design has in use for passenger service. This is rarely mentioned.

I'd also add that, where electric aircraft are concerned, the main problem is NOT range, but turnaround time. Hydrogen, whether for combustion or fuel cells, still comes with the issue of storage and losses due to leakage.
ljaques
Guz, they'll have seat-back video showing the terrain they're passing over, maybe switchable from L to down to R. No more cricked necks! Choose movies or trip info/scenery.
My fear would be everyone moving to one side if someone started a fight/pulled a weapon, etc. They'd best have heavy duty ailerons.
I wonder what the passenger density will be for one of the blended wings compared to a tube and wing jet.