JetZero
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 in Long Beach, California |
| Founders | |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
| Website | www |
JetZero is an American startup company in the aviation industry founded in Long Beach, California, in 2021.[1] It focuses on blended wing body aircrafta co-foun and the Chief Technology Officer (CTO).[2] The company announced it will b its first manufacturing plant near Piedmont Triad International Airport in Guilford County, North Carolinae, which will produce its next-generation1 jobs.[3]l
History
[edit]
In 2023, JetZero announced its Z4 project, designed to carry 250 passengers, targeting the middle-of-the-market category, to use existing Pratt & Whitney PW2040 43,000 lbf (190 kN) engines.[4][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 (25,500 m2) 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]
The Demonstrator aircraft is being built in partnership with Scaled Composites (Northrop Grumman).[13] It will use a Pratt and Whitney PW2040 engine,[14] and nacelles built by Collins Aerospace[15]
In 2025, JetZero continued development of its full-scale blended wing body (BWB) demonstrator, known as Jet1, with construction taking place at Scaled Composites' facility in Mojave, California. The program remained focused on achieving a first flight in 2027 under the U.S. Air Force contract. The company also continued flight testing of its Pathfinder series of subscale aircraft, using the data collected to refine flight-control software, aerodynamic models, and the configuration of the full-scale demonstrator.[16][17]
Programs
[edit]References
[edit]- 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.
- ↑ Karlin, Susan (May 31, 2023). "How JetZero aims to be the 'SpaceX of aviation'". Fast Company.
- ↑ "JetZero plans to build $4.7B plant in North Carolina, aims to create 14,500 jobs". Associated Press. 2025-06-12.
- ↑ Norris, Guy; Warwick, Graham (April 21, 2023). "JetZero Unveils Midmarket Airliner And Air Force Tanker BWB Plan". Aviation Week. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- 1 2 Roza, David (May 2, 2023). "As USAF Considers a Blended-Wing Body Tanker, New Startup Reveals Its Concept". Air & Space Forces Magazine.
- ↑ "RTX powers JetZero's fuel efficient aviation leap". RTX Press Release. March 6, 2025.
- ↑ Richardson, Brandon (August 16, 2023). "Long Beach-based JetZero awarded $235M government contract to develop new aircraft prototype". Long Beach Business Journal.
- ↑ Marrow, Michael (August 16, 2023). "Air Force picks startup JetZero to build blended wing body demonstrator". breakingdefense.com. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ↑ Alcock, Charles (August 16, 2023). "JetZero's blended-wing body aircraft boosted by U.S. Air Force contract". futureflight.aero. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ↑ Cormack, Rachel (March 27, 2024). "This New Blended-Wing Jetliner Was Just Cleared for Test Flights". Robb Report.
- ↑ Norris, Guy (February 22, 2024). "JetZero Scaled Demo BWB First Flight Imminent". Aviation Week.
- 1 2 Prisco, Jacopo (April 4, 2024). "JetZero: Groundbreaking 'blended-wing' demonstrator plane cleared to fly". CNN.
- ↑ https://www.jetzero.aero/progress
- ↑ https://aviationweek.com/podcasts/check-6/podcast-what-we-saw-inside-jetzero
- ↑ https://www.rtx.com/news/news-center/2025/03/06/rtxs-pratt-whitney-and-collins-aerospace-to-lead-engine-integration-and-supply
- ↑ Tirpak, John (2025-01-03). "Air Force Tests Subscale Model of Blended-Wing Body Jet". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
- ↑ "Progress". www.jetzero.aero. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
- ↑ "L'avion du futur va-t-il ressembler au Z4 de JetZero ?". Frane Info (in French). August 8, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.