Startup JetZero builds novel plane to take on Airbus and Boeing
Startup JetZero is developing a new type of aircraft in the Mojave Desert, aiming to challenge industry giants Airbus and Boeing. The company plans to have its novel plane ready by 2026.
Background
- JetZero is a California-based aerospace startup developing a **blended-wing body (BWB)** aircraft, where the fuselage and wings merge into one shape for radically better aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.
- The company claims its design burns 50% less fuel than current narrow-body jets (like the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320) and could carry 250 passengers.
- JetZero has backing from the US Air Force, which sees BWB planes as potential military tankers or transports. The startup plans a first flight in 2027 and aims to enter service around 2030.
- Commercial aviation is dominated by Boeing and Airbus; no major new airliner maker has emerged in decades. JetZero (and a few rivals like Sweden's Heart Aerospace) are trying to break in with radically different designs.
- The article is set in 2026 (as published) and reports on JetZero's progress, including a full-scale ground-test prototype being built in the Mojave Desert.