PREMIUM BLEND

Blended wing-body aircraft promise to enhance the commercial passenger experience while cutting emissions

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The first time you see a rendering of blended wing-body aircraft, you can see the future of aviation taking shape. From the cockpit, the design curves out into a rounded triangle toward the wings, finishing in a trapezoid behind them. The engines pop out of the top like dorsal fins. It's sleek, aerodynamic.

Then you wonder what the inside looks like. Sadly, we don't have real-life examples of what the flying experience will be like inside the blended wing-body aircraft, but the innovative designs promise more interior room while using less fuel. So, when will we see these planes in the skies?

A New Era in Aircraft Design

If all goes well with aerospace and aviation manufacturer JetZero's Z4, the first blended wing-body flight could take place in 2027. The U.S. Air Force has invested $235 million in the craft's development. United has an agreement in place to order up to 100 of the planes, with the option to order 100 more.