LOS ANGELES- United States (US) Air Force is investing in JetZero blended wing airliner design aimed at reducing fuel consumption, emissions, and noise while enhancing the passenger experience.
The company plans to construct a full-scale demonstrator to validate the performance of the blended wing body (BWB) design.
JetZero New Blended Wing Airliner
With air traffic predicted to grow at a rate of 3.6 percent annually, the task of decarbonizing the aviation industry becomes increasingly challenging.
The global airline fleet is expected to nearly double to 47,700 aircraft by 2041, as projected by Cirium, an aviation analytics firm. JetZero’s aircraft holds the potential to play a crucial role in lowering the industry’s carbon footprint.
JetZero’s demonstrator, which represents the inaugural model within a proposed series of blended wing body (BWB) aircraft, incorporates existing engines and systems.
This BWB design, previously explored over a span of three decades by entities like NASA, holds the potential for future conversion to hydrogen propulsion. This technology could yield zero carbon emissions.
As part of the agreement with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) within the U.S. Department of Defense, JetZero is set to receive funding of $235 million over a period of four years.
This financial support will lead up to the maiden flight of the full-scale demonstrator by the first quarter of 2027. Established in 2015, DIU’s mission is to facilitate the swift incorporation of emerging commercial technologies into the U.S. military.
In the pursuit of this venture, JetZero is collaborating with renowned partners Northrop Grumman and Scaled Composites, leveraging their substantial expertise in advanced aircraft design, manufacturing, and mission systems integration to construct and test the complete-scale demonstrator.
For the propulsion system, JetZero has chosen Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines, with additional support from Pratt & Whitney GATORWORKS, for the design and integration of the propulsion system within the demonstrator.
CEO Insights
“The blended wing body (BWB) represents a crucial initial stride toward achieving zero carbon emissions. With its current engine technology, it achieves a remarkable 50% reduction in fuel consumption, along with the airframe efficiency essential for facilitating a shift to zero carbon emissions propulsion in the coming years,” stated Tom O’Leary, the CEO of JetZero.
“In terms of efficiency, no other proposed aircraft approach the capabilities of the BWB design.”
Tom O’Leary, the CEO of JetZero
JetZero, under the leadership of Tom O’Leary, is at the forefront of initiatives aimed at extending the reach of BWB technology and showcasing its potential applications for the future aviation landscape.
This encompasses both military and commercial sectors, emphasizing the alignment of this technology with environmental sustainability goals.
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