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JetZero's ultra-efficient blended wing demonstrator cleared for takeoff
The basic shape of a passenger jet hasn’t really changed much for decades, but radical new shapes are inching closer to production. JetZero has announced that its beautiful blended-wing demonstrator has been FAA-approved to begin test flights.
A blended wing plane is exactly what it sounds like – the fuselage and the wings blend together into a sleek shape that’s a cross between a regular airliner and a flying wing. The more aerodynamic design, in which basically everything is a lift surface, drastically boosts its fuel efficiency, with JetZero claiming its blended wing would use 50% less than a standard jet.
That extra fuel efficiency would be huge. It'd cut running costs substantially, and it could open up longer-range transcontinental hops. The benefits could be even more valuable if this concept was combined with clean aviation powertrains like battery-electric, hydrogen or ammonia-fuelled concepts, where range is still a key impediment to widespread adoption.
Oh, and as a bonus, the blended wing design gives you much more room for cargo and passengers, which is a win for anyone who’s ever staggered stiff-legged off a long-haul flight. Or, more likely, it's a win for airline operators, who will be able to squeeze more malodorous armrest-hoggers and screaming babies into the plane with you.
Last year, JetZero announced that it was working with the US Air Force, NASA and the FAA to get its blended wing airliner into service by 2030, and in August it followed that up with the news of an Air Force contract to build a prototype by 2027.
Now, it's a step closer to those goals. The company announced via LinkedIn that the FAA has granted an Airworthiness Certificate to its smaller-scale demonstrator. Known as the Pathfinder, this model packs a 23-ft (7-m) wingspan, making it just 12.5% the scale of the full size aircraft.
“Now let’s go fly!” The post finishes, so hopefully it won’t be too long before we see some footage of this thing in the sky. And given the flurry of activity lately from Airbus to Zeroavia and everyone in between, maybe the blended wing’s time has finally come and we’ll be enjoying the extra legroom within a decade.
注释：
inch: v
表示" 慢慢移动"，means " (cause to) move slowly and with difficulty"，如：Prices are inching down. 物价在慢慢下降。
demonstrator: n
表示"示威者；示范者"，means "someone who demonstrates an article to a prospective buyer"，如：The demonstrator should indicate the degree of this reliability. 示范者应该指出这种可靠的程度。
fuselage：n
表示" 机身"，means "the central body of an airplane that is designed to accommodate the crew and passengers (or cargo)"，如：Here's the electronic installation in the aft fuselage. 这里的电子安装在机身尾部。
sleek: adj
表示"光滑的；圆滑的"，means "well-groomed and neatly tailored; especially too well-groomed"，如：Sleek surfaces are a hallmark of the style. 光滑的表面是现代派厨房的特点。
transcontinental: adj
表示"横贯大陆的"，means "spanning or crossing or on the farther side of a continent"，如：I wish I could make a transcontinental trip by Grey hound bus. 我希望我也能搭灰狗巴士做一次横跨大陆的旅行。
powertrain: n
表示"动力系"，means "wheelwork consisting of a connected set of rotating gears by which force is transmitted or motion or torque is changed;"，如：What`s the new requirement for vehicle powertrain? 车辆动力系统的新要求是什么？
ammonia：n
表示" 氨；"，如：Tests of the manure showed a high ammonia content. 这种肥料经过化验表明氨的含量很高。
impediment: n
表示" 障碍；阻碍；口吃"，means "something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress"，如：The main impediment to growth is a lack of capital. 影响发展的主要障碍是缺乏资本。
stagger: v
表示" 蹒跚；犹豫；动摇"，means "walk or move unsteadily"，如：Such a heavy load would stagger an elephant. 这么重的担子，大象担着也得摇晃。The drunk man staggered across the room. 那个醉汉摇摇晃晃地穿过房间。
malodorous: adj
表示" 有恶臭的"，means "having an unpleasant smel"，如：malodorous substance 恶臭物质
armrest: n
表示"（椅子两侧或汽车门内的）扶手"，means "a support for the arm"，如：If you want to relax, you can push the seat-recliner button in the armrest. 如果想舒展一下，您可以按扶手里的那个座位倾斜按钮。
hog: v
表示"独占"，means "take greedily; take more than one's share"，如：Drivers who hog the road leave no room for other cars. 那些占着路面的驾驶员一点余地都不留给其他车辆。
Airworthiness: n
表示"耐飞；适宜航空"，means "(of aircraft) fit to fly"，如：An export airworthiness certificate shall be issued if found qualified through examination. 经审查合格的，发给出口适航证书。
flurry: n
表示" 一阵疾风；忙乱"，means "a rapid active commotion"，如：A flurry of wind upset the small sailboat. 一阵疾风吹翻了小帆船。I'm always in a flurry as deadlines get nearer. 一接近最后期限我就忙乱不堪.
中文简要说明：
几十年来，客机的基本形状并没有太大变化，直筒型的机身，左右两侧加上机翼，尾部加装垂直尾翼与两片水平尾翼。但是未来或许将迎来一场新革命，一种新的飞翼型客机，可能使机舱更为宽敞，即使在经济舱，乘客也能伸伸脚。
新阿特拉斯(New Altas)报导，新创公司JetZero 宣布，他们所设计的混合飞翼型概念演示机，是一架翼展7 公尺的缩尺寸模型，它仅是全尺寸飞机的12.5%，它名叫「开拓者」(Pathfinder)。目前开拓者获得美国联邦航空管理局 (FAA) 的试飞许可。
混合翼飞机，是飞翼(Fly Wing)的简化版，外型类似B-2「精神式」轰炸机，但技术不需那么高，它具有椭圆形机身和细长的机翼，以及外挂式的引擎。
现行的飞机，其直筒状机身本身不具备升力效应，等于是2片机翼抬着机身在飞行；而混合翼飞机的机身，却也具有升力效果，也就是说，较小的引擎推力，飞机就可以起飞了。JetZero 声称，比较混合翼飞机传统飞机的飞行油耗，混合翼节省了一半。
这也意味着每一趟航班将可大幅降低营运成本，并且可以开辟更远距离的跨洲航线，而不需中途加油。如果这个设计再与电池电动、氢或氨燃料结合，那么航空业的减低碳排放与环保，又是更大的价值。
除了航空公司乐开了花以外，它也对旅客有着相当明显外的好处。混合式机翼设计，将使机舱空间更为宽敞，或许旅客可以携带更多的随身物体，同时拉开座椅间的距离，这样长腿的旅客就能伸一伸脚，而不会委屈到双腿僵硬。
新创公司JetZero在去年宣布，与美国空军、NASA 和 FAA 合作，争取在2030 年之前，将其混合翼客机投入使用。随后在去年8月，正式与美国空军签约，负责设计混合翼式运输机，代号「Z-5」，计划在2027年完成原型机。
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