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Jet Zero Z-5
Whitney PW1100G. The aircraft pressurizing a noncircular cabin technology officer Mark Page is
is equipped with mostly con- cross-section, part of a team that includes Bob
ventional systems, simplifying Liebeck and Blaine Rawdon who
development and reducing cost JetZero says advances invented the concept.
and risk.
in composites for The Z-5 tanker also fits
The plan is founded on several primary structures, into the USAF’s push to
design breakthroughs which added to the sin-
differentiate JetZero’s proposed gle-deck configuration have stealthy aircraft
BWB from many previous to penetrate enemy
blended wing concepts. One of of the Z-5, eliminate airspace.
these is a pivoting nose gear the problem of con-
which increases body angle for structing pressure
take-off – thereby solving many
of the pitch control and rotation vessels in a flattened Summing up Barry Eccleston,
challenges that hampered earlier fuselage shape. former Airbus Americas and
designs. International Aero Engines CEO
While the initial design is based and a member of JetZero’s advi-
For the take-off, the nose gear around conventional tanks for sory board told Aviation Week’s
extends by several feet to sustainable aviation fuel, the Guy Norris last year: “You have
increase the angle of attack company says the BWB config- all these tailwinds from the
by about 6 deg., allowing the uration provides ample internal environment, the Air Force and
BWB’s body to produce lift to volume for liquid-hydrogen fuel NASA, plus you have the tech-
amplify the effect of the aircraft’s tanks in the future. nology tailwind, which makes
elevons. The design enables JetZero is aiming for first flight in it viable when it wasn’t before.
the Z-5 to reach pitch attitude 2027. Then you set that against the
faster which in turn allows liftoff fact that Boeing and Airbus are
speed to be lower and reduces NASA and Boeing flew an 8.5%- doing nothing new in this space
the demand for high take-off scale BWB demonstrator in and you say, ‘We can’t sit here
thrust. And another bonus is that 2007, known as the X-48B but and do nothing.’ The industry
it eliminates the requirement for Boeing, incredibly, has walked deserves it, and the industry
leading-edge high-lift slats and away from the concept. needs it. If you’ve got something
reduces the size of the trail- you know will be 30-50% better
ing-edge flaps. O’Leary says private investors than today’s products, why
will also contribute funds to the would you not do it?”•
Countering another design development project. NOTE: Some elements of this article are taken
challenge levelled at BWBs from the soon to be available book Greening
concerning the inefficiencies of JetZero co-founder and chief Wings by Guy Norris and Geoffrey Thomas
12 | MARCH - APRIL 2024 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA
