Hexcel is advancing a strategic partnership with JetZero through the FAA’s Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition (FAST) program, qualifying composite materials for JetZero’s all-wing design aircraft development program.
“Our partnership and collaboration with JetZero represent a commitment to aerospace innovation,” said Stacey Reiersgaard, Vice President, Customer Business Teams, Hexcel. “We are accelerating the development of lightweight composite materials well suited for a blended wing body aircraft design that will redefine the future of sustainable aviation.”
According to the FAA, the FAST program is intended to “demonstrate innovative composite manufacturing technologies capable of supporting advanced non-cylindrical pressure vessel designs at unprecedented production rates.”
JetZero is developing the Z4, the world’s first all-wing design commercial airplane. This design produces greater lift and reduces drag, resulting in up to 50% better fuel efficiency than comparably sized tube & wing aircraft. The body of the all-wing is wider and shorter than tube & wing airplanes, with four interior cabins abreast, each with their own aisle and dedicated overhead bin space.
“Hexcel has been a key partner in our effort to develop and field an aircraft that will significantly reduce fuel consumption and associated emissions,” said Kevin Brauning, Head of Structures, JetZero. “Throughout our collaboration, Hexcel has continuously demonstrated its industry-leading technical expertise of flexible composite material solutions, and a commitment to sustainable aviation.”
Hexcel’s comprehensive carbon fiber and resin infusion technology portfolio and technological leadership in advanced aerospace materials led to the company’s selection as the provider of composite materials for the structural demonstration of the all-wing design airplane, according to Brauning.
“The research and development already underway will allow us to evaluate various advanced composite materials and manufacturing technologies to optimize aircraft design and performance,” said Brauning. “This collaborative approach with Hexcel is accelerating our technological assessment and development of the next-generation Z4 platform.”
“We are honored to have been selected by JetZero for this development effort,” said Reiersgaard. “As a vertically integrated and domestically sourced advanced composites solutions provider, Hexcel is uniquely positioned to support the aerospace industry’s critical transition toward more fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible aircraft designs.”
About Hexcel
Hexcel Corporation is a global leader in advanced lightweight composites technology. We propel the future of flight and transportation through excellence in providing innovative high-performance material solutions that are lighter, stronger, and tougher, helping to create a better world for us all. Our broad and unrivaled product range includes carbon fiber, specialty reinforcements, prepregs and other fiber-reinforced matrix materials, honeycomb, resins, engineered core and composite structures for use in commercial aerospace, defense and space, and industrial applications.
About JetZero
JetZero is developing the world’s first commercial all-wing design airplane. With up to 50% lower fuel burn compared to existing commercial airliners, JetZero’s Z4 offers the aviation industry a clear path to delivering a 250+ passenger airplane with 5,000 nautical mile range for the high-demand middle-market, while reducing its carbon footprint. Working alongside the US Air Force, NASA, and the FAA, and backed by decades of investment and research into blended wing technology, JetZero looks to enter commercial service in the early 2030s.
Featured image credited to JetZero
