JetZero

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A rendering of the JetZero blended wing body aircraft prototype for the US Air Force JetZero blended wing body aircraft prototype concept art.jpg
A rendering of the JetZero blended wing body aircraft prototype for the US Air Force

JetZero is a startup company in the aviation industry founded in Long Beach, California, in 2021. [1] It focuses on blended wing body aircraft. [2] [3] The U.S. Air Force, NASA, and a small group of private investors supplied the initial funding. [4]

Contents

Tom O’Leary is a co-founder and the CEO. Mark Page is a co-founder and the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). [4]

History

In 2023, JetZero announced its Z4 project, designed to carry 250 passengers, targeting the New Midmarket Airplane category, to use existing Pratt & Whitney PW2040 43,000 lbf (190 kN) engines. [5] [6] [7] In August 2023, the U.S. Air Force announced a $235-million contract awarded over a four-year period to JetZero, culminating in first flight of the full-scale demonstrator by the first quarter of 2027. [8] The goal of the contract is to demonstrate the capabilities of BWB technology, giving the Department of Defense and commercial industry more options for their future air platforms. [9] [10] In January 2024 the company began moving into a 275,000 sq ft space at Long Beach Airport formerly occupied by Gulfstream. [1] In March 2024 its Pathfinder 1:8 scale demonstrator received its airworthiness certificate from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), clearing the aircraft for test flights at Edwards Air Force Base in California. [11] [12] [13]

References

  1. 1 2 Richardson, Brandon (January 9, 2024). "Aircraft developer JetZero to take over long-empty Gulfstream space at Long Beach Airport". Long Beach Business Journal.
  2. ↑ Prisco, Jacopo (August 21, 2023). "JetZero: Is this new plane design the future of aviation?". CNN.
  3. ↑ "Blended Wing Body Aircraft". Northrop Grumman.
  4. 1 2 Karlin, Susan (May 31, 2023). "How JetZero aims to be the 'SpaceX of aviation'". Fast Company.
  5. ↑ Norris, Guy; Warwick, Graham (April 21, 2023). "JetZero Unveils Midmarket Airliner And Air Force Tanker BWB Plan". Aviation Week. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  6. ↑ Roza, David (May 2, 2023). "As USAF Considers a Blended-Wing Body Tanker, New Startup Reveals Its Concept". Air & Space Forces Magazine.
  7. ↑ "RTX powers JetZero's fuel efficient aviation leap". RTX Press Release. March 6, 2025.
  8. ↑ Richardson, Brandon (August 16, 2023). "Long Beach-based JetZero awarded $235M government contract to develop new aircraft prototype". Long Beach Business Journal.
  9. ↑ Marrow, Michael (August 16, 2023). "Air Force picks startup JetZero to build blended wing body demonstrator". breakingdefense.com. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  10. ↑ Alcock, Charles (August 16, 2023). "JetZero's blended-wing body aircraft boosted by U.S. Air Force contract". futureflight.aero. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  11. ↑ Cormack, Rachel (March 27, 2024). "This New Blended-Wing Jetliner Was Just Cleared for Test Flights". Robb Report.
  12. ↑ Norris, Guy (February 22, 2024). "JetZero Scaled Demo BWB First Flight Imminent". Aviation Week.
  13. ↑ Prisco, Jacopo (April 4, 2024). "JetZero: Groundbreaking 'blended-wing' demonstrator plane cleared to fly". CNN.
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