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This radical plane concept with an all-in-one wing could be the future of flight. See the leading designs from startups and Airbus.

November 2, 20240
A scale model of the Airbus blended-wing concept aircraft at the Farnborough Airshow in 2022.

Richard Baker/In Pictures via Getty Images

Nautilus CEO Aleksey Matyushev told Business Insider that banking on the airframe to reduce emissions is a better strategy than relying on sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF. Analysts have previously told BI that SAF is expensive and won’t be available in the quantities needed to meet the industry’s 2050 net-zero goal.

A lighter airframe is key to blended-wing efficiency.
Airbus’ six-foot-long blended-wing demonstrator was unveiled in 2020 as a test-bed for these delta-wing ideas.

Airbus

JetZero, Natlius, and Airbus’ blended-wing concepts have two engines attached to the back instead of under the wings, like most modern jetliners. Airbus said the engine location would reduce noise.

JetZero plans to borrow engines from planes like the Boeing 737. Matyushev said Natilus is in talks with manufacturers to develop its own blended-wing capable engine.

He said building a new engine from scratch is too risky. Airbus’ blended-wing concept would use zero-emission engines as it strives for a hydrogen-powered commercial airplane.

The cabin would be as unique as the airframe.
It’s easier to launch a new plane type if it can fit into existing airport infrastructure. Pictured is a rendering of Pathfinder.

JetZero

Aircraft manufacturers don’t want airlines or airports to have to spend a lot of money to accommodate a new jet type. The blended-wing plans are designed to fit into existing airport infrastructure.

JetZero, for example, said Pathfinder could fit into existing Airbus A330 gates, while Natlius said Horizon could fit into current narrowbody ones.

Small blended-wing demonstrators exist — but no full-scale prototypes are flying just yet.
Airbus is the top-seller for narrowbody jetliners, surpassing Boeing.

John Keeble/Getty Images

Airbus and Boeing have been the world’s two major commercial aircraft manufacturers for generations. However, supply chain issues at both, plus Boeing’s ongoing quality and production problems, may have opened the door for JetZero and Natilus.

“We decided to move into the narrowbody market because it’s the biggest opportunity over the next 20 years,” Matyushev said. “40,000 new narrowbody airplanes need to be built in that time, but Airbus and Boeing’s capacity outlook shows they can only produce 15,000 each, so we want to fill that capacity.”

JetZero said Pathfinder could replace Boeing 767s or similar traditional widebodies. The company has carrier attention, with Alaska Airlines announcing an investment in August.

There are still obstacles to overcome.
The B-21 Raider is among the blended-in wing planes bought by the USAF.

US Air Force via AP

While a blended-wing passenger plane is a relatively new concept, the aircraft type has been flying for the US military for decades.

Northrop Grumman’s latest version is the long-range B-21 Raider stealth bomber, with which the US Air Force is conducting flight tests.

Its shape is similar to that of the B-2 bomber predecessor, which was first delivered to the USAF in 1993.