The aviation industry is evolving with new and innovative designs. The new shapes and designs will improve the passenger experience and are moving closer to production.
JetZero’s blended wing-body demonstrator aircraft has received an airworthiness certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which brings us a step closer to seeing it in action during the flight-testing program in Southern California.
The blended wing planes have a unique design where the fuselage and wings blend together seamlessly, resulting in a sleek and aerodynamic shape. This design can significantly improve fuel efficiency, with some companies claiming up to 50% less fuel usage compared to traditional jets. This could have a huge impact on running costs and even enable longer-range flights. Combining this design with clean aviation powertrains like battery-electric, hydrogen, or ammonia-fueled concepts could be a game-changer for the industry.
Another exciting benefit of blended-wing planes is the extra room available for cargo and passengers—great news for anyone who’s ever experienced the discomfort of a cramped flight. However, this could lead to airlines packing more people into the plane.
JetZero has been working with the US Air Force, NASA, and the FAA to bring their blended-wing airliner to service by 2030. They even secured a contract to build a prototype by 2027.
They recently announced on LinkedIn that the FAA granted an Airworthiness Certificate to their smaller-scale demonstrator, the Pathfinder. This impressive model has a wingspan of 23 ft (7 m) and is just 12.5% the scale of the full-size aircraft.
The flight tests of Pathfinder were originally scheduled to commence in late 2023 but were delayed due to the late delivery of some parts. The initial flight test phase is expected to last around three months and will focus on evaluating the flight controls and nose landing gear.
The success of these tests will pave the way for the development of larger models. JetZero has already been awarded a $235 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to develop a full-scale prototype in collaboration with Northrop Grumman. This larger demonstrator will have the capacity of a Boeing 767 and the wingspan of an Airbus and is expected to begin test flights in the first quarter of 2027. These tests will demonstrate the capabilities of the technology and could lead to the development of a new class of military transports.
With so many companies actively working on similar projects, maybe the time for blended-wing planes has finally arrived, and we’ll start seeing them in commercial use within a decade.
