US aerospace startup JetZero has announced that it has raised approximately $175 million to continue the development of a Blended Wing Body (BWB) aircraft demonstrator.
The investment round was led by B Capital fund, with participation from United Airlines Ventures, Northrop Grumman, 3M Ventures, Trucks VC and RTX Ventures.
According to the company, including previous investments, government subsidies, incentives and commercial commitments, the total volume of resources raised for the program has already exceeded $1 billion.
The first flight of the full-scale prototype is scheduled for 2027. JetZero says the BWB architecture can offer an aerodynamic advantage of at least 30% over conventional aircraft with tubular fuselage and separate wings.
In the integrated wing concept, the fuselage and wings form a single lifting surface, allowing much of the structure to contribute to the generation of lift. According to the company, this configuration has the potential to reduce fuel consumption, increase internal volume and improve structural efficiency. On the other hand, the concept also presents significant challenges, in particular regarding certification, passenger evacuation procedures and compatibility with existing airport infrastructure.
The JetZero demonstrator will need to validate aspects such as aerodynamics, maneuverability and systems integration before a possible move to the development phase of a commercial aircraft. In the long term, the company plans to introduce a BWB-configured passenger aircraft in the early 2030s, in cooperation with the United States Air Force, NASA and aviation regulators.
Source and images: JetZero. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
