Company:Natilus

From HandWiki
Natilus
TypePrivate
IndustryAerospace industry
Founded2016
FoundersAleksey Matyushev
Anatoly Starikov [1]
HeadquartersSan Diego, California
ProductsPassenger and cargo aircraft design
Websitewww.natilus.co

Natilus is a San Diego–based aerospace company developing next-generation blended-wing-body cargo aircraft.

History

Natilus was founded in April 2016[2] by Aleksey Matyushev and Anatoly Starikov. The idea for Natilus was sparked after their industrial design firm experienced challenges getting product out of Asia, leading them to the realization that cargo shipping is inexpensive but slow, while air freight is timely but expensive. The company was originally based in the San Francisco Bay Area and the original prototype was a seaplane.[3] In 2021 the company relocated to San Diego, California, to access aerospace engineering talent and a world-class wind tunnel facility.[2]

Market

Natilus targets an existing $197 billion global air cargo market, projected to grow beyond $210 billion by 2027,[4] and the potential to tap into the $2.2 trillion global cargo shipping market, projected to reach $4.2 trillion by 2031.[5] Natilus is also targeting an existing $83.99 billion passenger aircraft market.[6]

Aircraft

File:Horizon Aerial Shot (1).jpg
A computer-generated image portrays the KONA and HORIZON blended-wing-body aircraft flying over trees.

The design of Natilus's blended-wing-body aircraft includes vertical tails[7] and conventional landing gear.[8]

Natilus's regional cargo aircraft, KONA, can carry a payload of 3.8 metric tons with a range of 900 nautical miles.[9][10] Made of carbon fibre and fibreglass composites, KONA can be optionally piloted[10] and is powered by turboprop engines developed by Pratt & Whitney.[11]

Natilus's first passenger aircraft, the HORIZON,[12] can carry a payload of 25 tons[7] with a range of 3,500 nautical miles.[13] The aircraft can carry up to 200 passengers.[14][15]

Development

Natilus raised $750,000 of venture capital from Tim Draper and was incubated at the aviation-oriented Starburst Accelerator in Los Angeles.

In November 2017, Natilus closed a second round of seed funding from Starburst Ventures, Seraph Group, Gelt VC, Outpost Capital and Draper Associates.[16]

Natilus has announced two aircraft in production: KONA, a pusher twin-turboprop regional cargo freighter capable of carrying 3.8 tonnes (8,400 lb) payload over 900 nautical miles (1,700 km), and HORIZON, a passenger aircraft capable of carrying 25 tonnes (55,000 lb) over 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km).[12] In April 2023, Natilus completed multiple flights of the subscale prototype of its KONA regional aircraft.[17][18] In an unusual move for a commercial aerospace company, Natilus has partnered with the YouTuber "Ramy RC" to build a scaled-down prototype of the Horizon aircraft. The prototype will have a 24-foot (7.3 metre) wingspan, and is expected to complete its first flights in early 2026.[19][20][21]

The company reported that Ameriflight has "agreed to purchase" 20 KONAs, and that total agreements cover 460 aircraft valued at over $6.8 billion. In February 2025, Natilus reported that Canadian charter airline Nolinor Aviation agreed to purchase multiple KONA aircraft.[22][23] In December 2025, Natilus announced an agreement with India's SpiceJet to certify the HORIZON in India, and subsequently sell 100 of these aircraft to the nation. As per Reuters, they are also planning to manufacture 300 such jets within India.[4][9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Terdiman, Daniel (2017-03-27). "A Startup's Plan to Cut Air Freight Costs in Half with 777-Size Drones". https://www.fastcompany.com/3069053/a-startups-plan-to-halve-cargo-shipping-costs-with-777-size-drones. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bloodworth, Donald (2024-01-23). "Natilus Designing Solutions for Air Cargo" (in en-US). https://www.sdbj.com/transportation/aerospace/natilus-designing-solutions-for-air-cargo/. 
  3. ↑ Smith, Phillip (2018-03-16). "This Leviathan Could Disrupt Unmanned Global Air Freight: Natilus CEO Aleksey Matyushev" (in en-US). https://dronebelow.com/2018/03/16/the-leviathan-that-could-disrupt-unmanned-global-air-freight-natilus-ceo-aleksey-matyushev/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Molyneaux, Ian (December 17, 2025). "Natilus links up with SpiceJet to launch blended-wing aircraft in India". https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/natilus-spicejet-blended-wing-aircraft-india. 
  5. ↑ "Cargo Shipping Market Size, Share, Revenue, Analysis, Outlook" (in en). https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/cargo-shipping-market-A47214. 
  6. ↑ "Passenger Aircraft - Worldwide" (in en). November 2024. https://www.statista.com/outlook/mmo/aircraft/commercial-aircraft/passenger-aircraft/worldwide. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Gardiner, Ginger (2024-10-30). "Natilus announces Horizon blended wing body CFRP aircraft for 200-passenger narrowbody market". https://www.compositesworld.com/news/natilus-announces-horizon-blended-wing-body-cfrp-aircraft-for-200-passenger-narrowbody-market. 
  8. ↑ Binkowski, Brooke (2024-10-24). "San Diego-Based Natilus Announces a New Kind of Passenger Aircraft". https://timesofsandiego.com/tech/2024/10/24/san-diego-based-natilus-announces-a-new-kind-of-passenger-aircraft/. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Gomes, Nathan (December 17, 2025). "Natilus marks India foray with new subsidiary, SpiceJet order for 100 jets". https://www.reuters.com/world/india/natilus-marks-india-foray-with-new-subsidiary-spicejet-order-100-jets-2025-12-17/. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Weitering, Hanneke (2025-02-04). "Canadian Airline Nolinor Orders Kona Cargo Freighters". https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-02-04/canadian-airline-nolinor-orders-autonomous-freighters. 
  11. ↑ Crider, Andrew (August 23, 2022). "Natilus selects P&W engines for first autonomous cargo aircraft". https://cargofacts.com/allposts/advanced-air-mobility/natilus-selects-pw-engines-for-first-autonomous-cargo-aircraft/. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Natilus Debuts its New Passenger Aircraft "Horizon" to Decarbonize Global Commercial Aviation" (Press release). Natilus. October 23, 2024.
  13. ↑ Hardee, Howard (2024-11-20). "Developer Natilus unveils 200-seat aircraft concept to challenge tube-and-wing supremacy". https://www.flightglobal.com/airframers/developer-natilus-unveils-200-seat-aircraft-concept-to-challenge-tube-and-wing-supremacy/160828.article. 
  14. ↑ Prisco, Jacopo (2024-11-01). "'Horizon' plane's innovative shape promises greener flights and added comfort". https://www.cnn.com/travel/natilus-horizon-blended-wing-aircraft-spc/index.html. 
  15. ↑ Alcock, Charles (2024-10-23). "Natilus Reveals Plan For 200-Seat Blended Wing Body Airliner". https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2024-10-23/natilus-reveals-plan-200-seat-blended-wing-body-airliner. 
  16. ↑ "As Autonomous Technology Transforms the Global Freight Sector, Natilus Attracts More Seed Investment from Starburst Ventures, Seraph Group, Gelt VC, Outpost Capital and Draper Associates" (Press release). Starburst Ventures. Nov 13, 2017.
  17. ↑ Jeffrey, Rebecca (2023-04-19). "Natilus completes UAV prototype flights". https://www.aircargonews.net/natilus-completes-uav-prototype-flights/1060278.article. 
  18. ↑ "Successful Flight of Natilus Kona Prototype Validates Performance of Unique Blended Wing Body Design". 2023-04-19. https://www.asdnews.com/news/aerospace/2023/04/19/successful-flight-natilus-kona-prototype-validates-performance-unique-blended-wing-body-design. 
  19. ↑ Ramy RC (2025-12-12). Building a Prototype Blended Wing Body Aircraft, Natilus Horizon Part 1/2. Retrieved 2026-01-04 – via YouTube.
  20. ↑ Batchelor, Tom (2025-12-18). "Natilus taps a YouTuber to build its prototype blended wing aircraft" (in en-en). https://aerospaceglobalnews.com/news/natilus-ramy-rc-youtuber-horizon-blended-wing-prototype-aircraft/. 
  21. ↑ Dixit, Mrigakshi (2025-12-18). "YouTuber builds 'world's largest' blended-wing aircraft prototype" (in en). https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/worlds-largest-blended-wing-prototype. 
  22. ↑ "Nolinor Aviation to acquire multiple cargo aircraft from Natilus" (Press release). Nolinor Aviation. February 4, 2025.
  23. ↑ Rains, Taylor (2025-02-04). "Why a cargo airline is eyeing a radical new aircraft design for its future planes". https://www.businessinsider.com/carg-airline-futuristic-blended-wing-body-plane-natlius-2025-2. 



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