Expect drastic design changes in new Alaska Airlines aircraft in the future. As announced on August 13, 2024, the company has made an undisclosed investment in a California startup called JetZero that aims to build aircraft with modern designs.
Entry into the aerospace age
Alaska Airlines aims to be among the first commercial airlines to implement the blended wing-body (BWB) concept on its new aircraft. This design combines the fuselage and wing in one piece, creating a smooth and sleek-looking aircraft with no parting lines.
A futuristic design is not the only goal of JetZero’s ambitions. The company claims that the new planes will reduce both carbon emissions and fuel consumption by 50%. This means that BWB planes will consume fewer resources compared to conventional commercial aircraft.
JetZero CEO Tom O’Leary commented on the recent partnership with Alaska Airlines:
“Of all the great new technologies, the BWB design has by far the greatest impact. Airlines will see immediate benefits in the form of cost savings, dramatically reduced emissions and an improved customer experience compared to airlines flying today.”
History of the BWB design
The first BWB aircraft was built in 1924 and was known as the Westland Dreadnought. It was a prototype developed in the UK by Westland Aircraft for the now defunct Air Ministry. The aircraft crashed on its first test flight, with the pilot being thrown from the aircraft and suffering serious, life-changing injuries.
The United States Army Air Forces also took an early leap of faith with aircraft developer McDonnell on a BWB prototype, an aircraft called the McDonnell XP-67. This aircraft existed for a few months in 1944, but was destroyed when one of its engines caught fire, and the project was subsequently canceled. McDonnell and Boeing tried to develop an official BWB aircraft in the following years, but these plans were also abandoned.
In the 1990s, NASA also attempted to build a BWB aircraft with help from McDonnell. This prototype later became the Boeing X-48B, which made its first flight in July 2007. One of the people who made this aircraft a reality was Mark Page, now co-founder of JetZero.
“People love this airplane. Because of the efficiency benefits the airplane will provide, people have been expecting it to be the future of aviation for some time,” Page told Forbes in 2023.
Based on the experience gained from developing JetZero’s BWB aircraft, Alaska Airlines is sure to make a splash in the future unless Airbus or another company can beat this duo to the punch. While some passengers may need time to get used to the toy or space-like design of the planes, they will certainly help avoid some fuel consumption issues in the long run.
What do you think of the partnership between Alaska Airlines and JetZero? Are you a fan of the BWB design or do you prefer the classic aircraft models? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
