A MAJOR airline is investing in the incredible “plane of the future” that has a single wing and looks to have the aircraft up and running by 2030.
US carrier Alaska Airlines has announced it’s investment into aviation company JetZero that’s developing the revolutionary airliner that received FAA approval a few months ago.
Alaska are the first commercial operator to make the bold futuristic move.
Now more airlines are considering purchase options as well for the innovative design, reports claim.
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.
Alaska appears to be a leader in exploring low carbon emission travel options as in 2021 they invested in hydrogen-electric company ZeroAvia.
Upon announcing the collaboration between the plane giant and JetZero, Alaska’s spokesperson said: “We are always looking for ways to innovate and shape the future of air travel.
“We are proud to invest in JetZero’s development of this innovative next-generation aircraft, with a significant step-change in fuel efficiency.
“We and JetZero share a vision for more sustainable aviation, and we are excited to partner with them in creating that future.”
The development is the “blended wing body” design that dates back several decades.
This is 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 other commercial aircraft giants like Alaska may be strongly considering investing.
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.
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 JetZero, 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.
“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 blended wing design is a “revolutionary” idea with immense potential, but it comes with several hurdles, according to aviation analyst Bailey Miles.
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.”
It comes as plans for other futuristic planes are revealed, including for a “wonky wing” supersonic aircraft.
The “wonky wing” plane only has one wing, which rotates on a centre pivot – similar to a helicopter.
Another incredible “ring-wing” plane of the future also only has one wing, allowing for tiny runways, smooth landings, and less fuel use.
The Lockheed Ring Wing spans 170 feet and has a unique, circular wing that stands 75 feet tall and arches back 27 degrees to attach itself to the tail of the aircraft.
A third revolutionary concept, for a “Flying V” plane, is set to make travelling more affordable for holidaymakers.
The aircraft merges the passenger cabin, the cargo hold, and the fuel tanks into one space – the wings.
Its design makes for a smaller and lighter aircraft that uses less fuel.
THE blended-wing concept dates back several decades.
The earliest attempts at building planes with the design date back to the late 1920s, in Germany.
A jet-powered flying wing design was created in 1947 by American aircraft designer and industrialist Jack Northrop.
The design later inspired the B-2 in the 1990s.
Nasa has tested the shape through one of its experimental planes, the X-48, with about 120 test flights completed by two unmanned, remote-controlled X-48s between 2007 and 2012.
And in 2020, Airbus built a small blended-wing demonstrator, measuring about six feet in length.
