- Blended-wing aircraft could be the future of commercial aviation.
- Airbus and startups JetZero and Natilus are leading the development of these more efficient flying wings.
- The jets have up to 50% less fuel consumption and a uniquely shaped passenger cabin.
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Airplane manufacturers are racing to build the airplane of the future as airlines demand more efficient aircraft.
One of the most likely concepts is a “blended-wing” body aircraftwhich combines the fuselage and wing in one. This is a departure from the traditional tube-and-wing design that has been the norm since the beginning of commercial aviation.
The all-in-one wing can reduce drag by as much as 30%, reducing the amount of fuel needed, according to the U.S. Air Force, which plans to use the design in a prototype.
A handful of companies have announced plans to build these unique ships by 2030, including startups JetZero and Natilus and long-standing aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Boeing has been engaged in blended-wing research, but has no plans yet to build one.
Natilus and JetZero are starting from scratch and targeting different markets, but they have the same overarching goal: break the Airbus-Boeing duopoly.
Natilus is developing a 200-passenger narrowbody jet, called Horizon, to fill the perceived gap in aircraft capacity over the next twenty years, while JetZero plans to build a massive 250-passenger widebody, called Pathfinder, to replace the outdated Boeing 767s.
Airbus could maintain its market leadership with 200 passengers “ZEROe” concept with mixed wings. The company has decades of experience in designing commercial aircraft, making it a leader in the industry best-selling Airbus A320 family with similar abilities.
According to them, all three companies have found the secret sauce in the giant flying wing. It is poised to significantly improve fuel economy, open a wider cabin and provide airlines with a better overall economic benefit, while still meeting route and infrastructure needs.
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