Blended wing body (BWB) aircraft start-up JetZero will base its first manufacturing and final assembly facility in North Carolina.
This $4.7bn investment will be located on the grounds of Piedmont Triad International Airport and will produce JetZero’s Z4 aircraft. When operational the Z4 will seat 250 passengers and will have a 5,000 nautical mile range.
The aircraft will aim to reduce drag and produce lift across its entire wingspan, which it claims could lead to as much as 50% reduction in fuel burn per passenger mile compared to a similar sized aircraft.
This new site will create upwards of 14,500 jobs, aiming to deliver a positive economic impact on the region. The company said it will be capable of producing up to 20 Z4 aircraft per month at the factory’s full run rate, with this expected to be achieved by the late 2030s.
“North Carolina offers the ideal combination of talent, infrastructure, and forward-thinking leadership to support our mission to reshape aviation,” said Tom O’Leary, CEO and co-founder of JetZero. “This facility is a critical milestone in bringing our all-wing Z4 to market. I applaud the leadership of Governor Josh Stein and his team as well as the leadership of the North Carolina General Assembly, and whole host of local leaders and organisations for working with us to bring JetZero to North Carolina, the birthplace of aviation.”
JetZero has so far secured investments and conditional purchase agreements from Alaska Airlines and United Airlines.