THE world’s first “blended-wing body” plane which boasts a “living room in the sky” is being bought by a major airline.
JetZero’s revolutionary aircraft is having billions of dollars invested in it – and it could replace older Boeing jets.
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United Airlines is now backing the project – unveiling a groundbreaking plan to buy up to 200 of the swanky new planes.
The design was made by California-based aerospace startup JetZero who want to compete with the likes of Airbus and Boeing.
They are hoping to make a plane which burns half the fuel of a similarly sized, traditional wing plane.
The 250-passenger Z4 plane has not yet been certified – but the company is hoping to launch is by 2030.
They also made and flew a successful breakthrough prototype in 2024.
The futuristic plane combines the wings and fuselage into a single “lifting surface”.
This one-of-a-kind airframe dramatically widens the cabin space – allowing United to accommodate over a dozen seats per row.
But this comes at the cost of less rows – overall making the body shorter and wider than traditional dual-aisle planes.
The Z4 may only have 10 or 15 rows, and additionally four entry doors to improve boarding and deplaning efficiency.
There will also be economy and premium seats with Starlink WiFi on board, which will add to the “living room” vibe.
JetZero also said incredible design would have better lift and lower drag – which could cut fuel burn by up to 50% per passenger mile.
Managing director of United Airlines Venture told Business Insider that the Z4’s oversized wing could create a “living room in the sky“.
United claimed that a flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, would use up to 45% less fuel than the twin-aisle aircraft flying the route today.
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Chang backed the revolutionary project, saying that the the travel experience would be “reinvented” around the new space within this new aircraft design.
Chang added that the conditional purchase agreement relies on the firm’s ability to prove its revolutionary design.
The conditions include making a full-sized demonstrator by 2027, and meeting United’s operational and business requirements on areas like cost, fuel burn, and safety.
The boss showed confidence in JetZero which also has the support of the US Air Force.
He boasted: “If you look at the management team, there’s a lot of institutional experience and knowledge there from companies like Airbus and Boeing.”
But JetZero’s expected commercialisation is still years away.
If certified, the flyer could provide United with a more cost-effective, first-class fleet option.
Chang added: “We believe [JetZero] is a game changer; this is a different way to reinvent aviation.”
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