JetZero

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]

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, expecting to use existing CFM International LEAP or Pratt & Whitney PW1000G 35,000 lbf (160 kN) engines.[5][6] 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.[7] 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.[8][9] 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.[10][11][12]

References

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