New Blended Wing Body (BWB) aircraft – is 50% fuel reduction a credible claim?

Abstract

Startup companies are convinced the Blended Wing Body (BWB) configuration will revolutionize flight and will use "up to 50% less fuel than today’s commercial jets" (www.jetzero.aero). The US-based companies are JetZero and Natilus. In December 2025, Outbound Aerospace had to shut down, running out of funding. In contrast: "Substantial fuel reduction cannot be expected for passenger aircraft" is the research result from a former HAW Hamburg project featuring a flying BWB demonstrator called AC20230 with a span of 3 m. The presentation guides the audience through the aeronautical disciplines and shows with real numbers and a few equations what to expect beyond unfounded promises and artist's impressions. However, a viable application could be a BWB tanker. Large parts of such an aircraft could remain unpressurized, and like the Northrop B2 bomber, the BWB offers low-observable (stealth) characteristics. Even more important: The U.S. Air Force needs a tanker replacement and has funds available. In 2023, the U.S. Air Force awarded a $235-million contract to JetZero to build a full-scale demonstrator by 2027 in partnership with Scaled Composites (Northrop Grumman).