Major step forward in commercial aircraft design

JetZero is advancing commercial-aircraft design with a full-scale demonstrator under development in a large hangar at the Mojave Desert. The California-based startup says the project targets a 200-plus-seat passenger aircraft and aims to build the first blended-wing commercial airliner, in which the fuselage and wings merge into a single aerodynamic surface. The company expects the prototype to fly before the end of next year. JetZero claims the manta ray-shaped design could cut fuel usage by up to half. It has also generated early interest and investment from United Airlines and Alaska Airlines. The broader market is seen as strategically important for long-term plans at both Airbus and Boeing.