A FUTURISTIC jetliner with a “blended wing design” is set to hit the skies by 2030, promising astonishing results.
The next-generation aircraft is said to achieve 50 per cent less fuel burn and carbon emissions while offering a dramatic cabin layout with theatre-like seats.
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The proposal on the table is the “blended wing body” design – a wide, flattish fuselage that smoothly blends outward into a pair of wide wings, with no clear dividing line separating the wing from the body.
Several key benefits come along with this design, and that is why commercial aircraft giants Boeing and Airbus are both tinkering with the idea – but have failed to put it across the testing stage.
However, California tech startup JetZero, in collaboration with NASA and the US Air Force, has been working on the revolutionary design to get it into commercial airspace by the end of this decade.
The biggest benefit of the design is the fuselage’s aerodynamic shape which reduces drag and increases lift, enabling the plane to cruise at higher altitudes in thinner air on less fuel.
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It contributes much more lift than a typical tube shape, so you don’t need as much wing surface.
And it is much more aerodynamically stable, so you don’t need a tail wing which ends up achieving dramatic reductions in drag and weight, leading to smaller engines and further weight savings.
Mark Page, founder of the startup, says: “The blended wing is 50% more efficient.
“It uses half the fuel, makes half the carbon dioxide compared to a tube-and-wing aircraft, frankly, even with the same engines. Fuel is the largest line item on an airline’s profit and loss statement.
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“A JetZero blended wing cuts that line item in half.
“That’s not just a competitive advantage; in the future, it’ll be survival.”
Because of the seamless, blended wing body that shows no clear dividing line between the wings and fuselage, there’s a heap more room inside for cargo and passengers, with a seating layout that starts looking more like a theatre than a regular airliner.
The engines can be mounted topside, resulting in much lower noise both in the cabin and on the ground.
The first JetZero aircraft, if it becomes a reality, will be the Z-5.
It’s designed to replace the Boeing 767, aiming to carry at least 250 passengers and to offer a range of over 5,000 nautical miles.
While the 767’s wingspan goes to around 170 ft, the Z-5 will be nearly 200 ft wide – and this might force airports to slightly tweak their bays to fit the wide aircraft.
The blended wing design is a “revolutionary” idea with immense potential, but it comes with several hurdles, according to aviation analyst Bailey Miles.
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He says: “The blended wing body aircraft holds immense promise as a game changer in the aviation industry, offering the potential for improved fuel efficiency, enhanced payload capacity, and innovative control systems.
“However, addressing the aerodynamic complexities, ensuring structural integrity, navigating regulatory hurdles, and adapting airport infrastructure are formidable challenges that must be overcome for it to become a reality.”
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