Ask Onix
Blended-Wing Airliners Edge Closer to Reality as Startups Race Ahead
A radical shift in aircraft design-where fuselage and wing merge into a single structure-may soon become a commercial reality. In March 2025, a small V-shaped drone named Steve (Scaled Test Vehicle) completed its maiden 16-second flight at Oregon's Pendleton UAS Range, marking the first step toward a 200-250-seat blended-wing airliner slated for the 2030s.
The Promise of Blended-Wing Design
Blended-wing aircraft, which eliminate the traditional divide between wing and body, have been explored for over a century. The first recorded attempt, the Westland Dreadnought, crashed in 1924. Since then, the concept has largely remained in military applications, such as the B-21 Raider bomber. Now, pressure to slash aviation emissions is reviving interest in commercial adaptations.
Proponents argue that blended-wing designs could cut fuel consumption by up to 50%, reduce emissions similarly, lower noise, and expand cabin space by 40%. NASA research supports these claims, though challenges like pressurization and passenger acceptance remain.
Outbound Aerospace's Ambitious Timeline
Seattle-based Outbound Aerospace, founded by ex-Boeing engineer Jake Armenta, built and flew Steve in just nine months-a fraction of the 5-10 years typical for aircraft development. The startup's goal: a full-scale airliner, the Olympic, with a 171-foot wingspan (eight times Steve's size), by the 2030s.
Steve's success has pivoted the company toward a near-term product: a cargo drone for the U.S. Department of Defense and civilian clients. "We're proving we can reduce development costs and time," says Aaron Boysen, Outbound's business development director. The startup has raised $1 million in pre-seed funding, hiring a lean team to advance its vision.
"The aircraft flew nine months after we opened our factory. That's unheard of in this industry."
Jake Armenta, CTO, Outbound Aerospace
Competition Heats Up
Outbound isn't alone. JetZero, based in Long Beach, California, secured $235 million from the U.S. Air Force, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines for its Z4 blended-wing airliner. JetZero's Pathfinder I demonstrator has already flown, and the company aims to begin full-scale tests by 2027, with a factory under construction in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Analyst Bill Sweetman notes that while venture capitalists are eager to disrupt aviation, the financial hurdles are immense. "Starting a new aircraft company is an enormous task," he says. "The money airlines are risking now is pocket change compared to what's needed."
Historical Hurdles
Past efforts, like Boeing's X-48 (a 2007 Time "Top Invention"), proved blended-wing viability but stalled due to cost and technical barriers. Pressurizing a non-circular cabin and ensuring passenger comfort remain key challenges. "You can't just scale up a drone to an airliner," Sweetman warns.
The Road Ahead
Outbound plans to refine Steve into the Gateway drone, then develop a business jet and the Olympic airliner. Boysen acknowledges the obstacles but insists innovation is overdue: "There's a hunger in Seattle's aerospace talent pool for something new."
Whether blended-wing airliners will disrupt the Airbus-Boeing duopoly depends on overcoming certification, public acceptance, and the billions needed to bring a design to market. For now, Steve's short flight symbolizes a long journey ahead.
