JetZero, Altair to Decarbonise Aviation With Blended Wing Airplanes

• The aircraft startup is poised to redefine air travel and passenger transportation in the future.
• Its aircraft design considers reduced fuel consumption, noise pollution, and interior layout.

JetZero, the developer of the world’s first commercial blended-wing body airplane, has partnered with Altair, a frontrunner in simulation and AI technology, to advance aircraft innovation and sustainability in aviation.

JetZero’s design is unique and innovative. Unlike traditional planes with separate fuselage and wings, their design swimmingly blends the wings with the body. As a result, the aircraft is more aerodynamic, lighter, and fuel-efficient, reducing fuel consumption and emissions by up to 50%.

The partnership with Altair helps the aircraft manufacturer refine its design using the former's FlightStream software, a tool for advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. So, JetZero can optimise aircraft performance, analyse airflow, and reduce development costs.

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Pietro Cervellera, senior vice president of aerospace and defence, Altair, said: "Altair is delighted that JetZero, a true pioneer in the world of aerospace today, is leveraging our simulation and AI technology to push limits in airplane design.

'''JetZero’s vision is to reshape aviation to usher in a more efficient, more sustainable aerospace industry – we share this same vision. There is no better technology portfolio today to accelerate design, reduce complexity, and expand boundaries in aerospace than Altair’s."

The blended body structure also has many other advantages. Its wider body allows for more interior space, and with the engines mounted on the top back of the aircraft, it helps reduce noise, so it does not affect the communities living nearby during landing and takeoff, as the sound is directed upwards instead of toward the ground.

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JetZero has access to Altair’s complete range of simulation, AI, and data analytics tools as part of Altair’s Aerospace Startup Acceleration Program (ASAP). These resources are crucial for conducting studies, performing research, and overcoming engineering challenges.

It plans to achieve its designs’ first full-scale flight in 2027, which will shift the tone and tenor of future aviation technology, and if everything goes well as planned, its blended-wing airplanes will redefine air travel by offering a more fuel-efficient, spacious, sustainable and quieter alternative to today’s traditional aircraft.

Tom O’Leary, co-founder and chief executive officer, JetZero, said: "JetZero uses Altair technology because it helps us deliver on our mission of making the biggest leap forward in aviation since the dawn of the jet age.

"With FlightStream and other tools within the Altair portfolio, our team can run the simulations on an accelerated time frame, at scale, and with the simplicity we need to transform an industry. The Z4 airplane is inevitable, and Altair is helping us to shape the future of aviation.”

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Source: JetZero