At this year’s largest European trade fair for general and business aviation, AERO Friedrichshafen 2026, one of the most intriguing premieres was a technology demonstrator based on the so-called blended wing body (BWB) concept. This is a specific configuration in which the fuselage and wings are merged into a single aerodynamic entity.
Simply named G-1, this project by the German company GETWING GmbH from Hamburg carries a strong Serbian imprint – the entire structure of the aircraft was manufactured in Serbia.
From zero to take-off in just one year
The project is being developed with financial support from the German innovation agency SPRIND (Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen), with the aim of testing “flying wing” technology and later applying it to large passenger aircraft, Marko Stamenović, co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of Getwing, explained to Aero.rs.
Stamenović emphasised that the journey from “zero engineering” to a flight-ready aircraft was completed in just one year. A key partner in this record-fast process was the Belgrade-based company Wing d.o.o., with its facility in Vršac.
The G-1 aircraft is a single-seater powered by an electric motor. For the development team, ultimate range or endurance is not currently the focus; the primary task of this demonstrator is to prove flight mechanics under real-world conditions. A commercial variant, the G-2, has also been announced, with a projected empty weight of just 120 kg, a maximum take-off weight of 240 kg, a speed of 200 km/h, and a range of 1,000 km.
Made in Serbia
Marija Dragović, owner and director of Wing d.o.o., proudly highlighted the speed and precision with which the project was executed: “We produced all the moulds for the composite parts, the structure, the painting, the assembly – everything was done here. The moulds are large, over seven metres, and the entire structure was completed in less than six months.”
She added that this is the first aircraft of this wing type for their company, making the entire team particularly proud. After the structure was completed in Serbia, the German partners integrated the electric motor and avionics.
The project also draws on a rich tradition of German engineering, as a partner in Getwing, Bernhard, previously headed Horten Aircraft, which showcased a similar flying wing in Friedrichshafen a few years ago.
What exactly is the blended wing body concept?
The significance of the G-1 project lies in the return to a design that smoothly blends the fuselage into the wings, creating a unified aerodynamic whole. The basic principle is that the entire surface of the aircraft contributes to generating lift, drastically reducing air resistance and increasing energy efficiency.
Although “flying wings” have been envisioned since the pioneering work of the Horten brothers in the 1930s, and later through military applications such as the famous B-2 Spirit bomber and the most modern B-21 Raider, the G-1 represents a contemporary interpretation aimed at commercial and environmentally sustainable use.
(Aero Telegraf, 29.04.2026)