Monoplanes can replace Boeing aircraft

A completely new shape aircraft model is licensed to take off in the skies of California, promising to save fuel and emit less emissions than conventional aircraft.

At the end of March, Long Beach-based JetZero announced that Pathfinder, a one-eighth-size monocoque experimental aircraft , had been certified airworthy and ready to fly by the US Federal Aviation Administration. try, CNN reported on April 4.

Monoplanes have a different shape than current wide-body aircraft. (Photo: JetZero).

As it seeks to reduce carbon emissions, the aviation industry faces greater challenges than other sectors because core technology is too difficult to change. The monocoque wing design is similar to the "flying wing" design used by military aircraft such as the B2 bomber, but the monocoque wing occupies a larger volume in the middle of the fuselage. JetZero's new development milestone brings the company closer to its goal of putting this aircraft into operation as early as 2030.

According to Tom O'Leary, JetZero co-founder and CEO, the monocoque airframe can burn less fuel and emit 50% less air. One major technical challenge that holds manufacturers back is pressurizing the non-cylindrical body. Long-tube aircraft are better at handling the expansion and contraction cycles that come with each flight. In addition, the new shape also makes the aircraft's interior different from today's wide-body aircraft. The same number of passengers can sit in 15 - 20 rows across the cabin depending on the configuration of each aircraft instead of being divided into three rows as usual.

O'Leary said the closest version in terms of size to a monoplane is the Boeing 767, a twin-engine wide-body aircraft introduced in the 1980s that can carry 210 passengers. The vehicle is still produced for cargo transport, but has been replaced by the Boeing 787 in passenger operations. It also has a modern military version called the KC-46 that the US Air Force uses for aerial refueling.

Similarly, JetZero wants to develop three versions simultaneously, including a passenger aircraft with more than 200 seats, a cargo aircraft and a refueling aircraft. Last year, the US Air Force spent $235 million on JetZero to develop a full-size test aircraft and test the design's performance. This military version will help pave the way and support the development of commercial versions.

The Pathfinder test aircraft has a wingspan of 7m, 12.5% ​​smaller than the full-size version, and is expected to take off in 2027. The vehicle is designed to be 100% compatible with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and has internal volume to accommodate hydrogen. JetZero has not announced any orders for the aircraft, but said airlines are excited to hear about the performance gains.