JetZero Wins $5.3M FAA CLEEN IV Award to Gather In-Flight Data on Top-Mounted Engines
Why It MattersReal-flight inlet and fan-exit measurements on an all-wing airframe could help certify a configuration that places engines on top of the fuselage, a layout aimed at cutting noise near airports.
JetZero has been selected by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to receive $5.3 million under Phase IV of the FAA's Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) program, the company announced on Oct. 28, 2026 from Long Beach, California. The award will fund engine and nacelle instrumentation to collect data on top-mounted engines in an all-wing configuration, with in-flight measurements to be taken on JetZero's full-scale Jet1 Demonstrator.
Under the CLEEN IV award, JetZero will capture and share airflow data at the engine inlet and fan exit across takeoff, climb, cruise and crosswind ground operations in a representative operational environment, rather than on costly engine rigs or simulated ground-plane tests. JetZero's design places the engines on top of the fuselage, which reduces noise for airport communities.
The company's Z4 is designed to deliver up to 50% better fuel efficiency than comparable-class tube-and-wing aircraft using the same propulsion technology, with entry into service targeted for the early 2030s. The FAA's CLEEN program is the agency's principal public-private partnership for maturing aircraft technologies that reduce fuel burn, emissions and community noise, and for accelerating their introduction into the commercial fleet.
