2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Kona’s carbon-fiber wings will have a conventional spar-and-rib structure

Natilus Picks Wing Supplier for Blended-wing Freighter

Charlotte Bailey

Essential news and analysis from the defense aerospace sector. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs in military aircraft, engines, and avionics.

Optionally-piloted blended-wing-body freighter to make first flight in 2028

Natilus’ Freighter Concept Awarded U.S. Defense Funding 

Scott Hamilton

Bjorn Fehrm

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Engine selection, range, and production plans face scrutiny

JetZero and Natilus Pitch BWB Alternatives to Airbus, Boeing Narrowbodies

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

200-seat airliner includes club seating and privacy pods

Natilus Unveils Interior Design for Horizon Blended-wing-body Airliner

A joint study will quantify the environmental, economic, and operational impact of BWBs

Logistics Giant Kuehne+Nagel Teams with Natilus on Blended-wing-body Freighters

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

The charter operator agreed to buy  multiple Kona production slots from Natilus

Canadian Airline Nolinor Orders Kona Cargo Freighters

Charles Alcock

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

Blended wing body concept competes with a design by rival start-up JetZero and existing Airbus and Boeing aircraft

Natilus Reveals Plan For 200-Seat Blended Wing Body Airliner

ZeroAvia’s ZA600 hydrogen-electric propulsion system will power Natilus’s Kona autonomous cargo aircraft. The two California-based companies announced the partnership on May 25.
The twin turboprop Kona is a <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-02-24/natilus-claims-blended-wing-autonomous-freighters-will-transform-air">blended-wing-body&nbsp;(BWB) design</a> that will be the first member of a family of aircraft. According to ZeroAvia, the airframe architecture offers plenty of space for storing hydrogen fuel, allowing for a payload of 3.8 tons (8,360&nbsp;pounds) and a range of 900 nm.
<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-13/zeroavia-reveals-record-breaking-hydrogen-fuel-cell-performance-tests">ZeroAvia </a>is already advancing plans to use the 600-kilowatt&nbsp;powertrain to convert existing 19-seat twin turboprop regional aircraft such as the Dornier 228, with the aim of having it approved to start commercial flights in 2025. The company’s more powerful ZA2000 propulsion system will later be used to convert larger airliners. It has already conducted eight flights in a <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-01-19/zeroavia-achieves-first-flight-hydrogen-powered-regional-airliner">testbed aircraft</a>.
In April, California-based <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-04-19/autonomous-cargo-aircraft-developer-natilus-begins-flight-testing">Natilus flew</a> a subscale technology demonstrator aircraft for the first time. It said that the quarter-scale version of the Kona validated earlier wind-tunnel tests of the BWB design, with speeds of 70 mph being attained.
<h3 class="subheading">Bigger Blended-wing-body Freighters in the Works</h3>
Natilus is now building a full-size Kona technology demonstrator that will have a wingspan of 85 feet. The company is also working on longer-term plans for larger autonomous freighters called the Alisio and Nordes with payloads of up to 100&nbsp;tons and ranges in excess of 5,000 nm. These will have ducted fan engines.&nbsp;Natilus has not yet announced whether they will be powered by hydrogen or another fuel.
According to the company, it holds provisional sales commitments for more than 480 aircraft from operators including Ameriflight, Volatus Aerospace, Flexport, Astral, Aurora International, and Dymond. It said these preorders&nbsp;are potentially worth more than $6.8 billion.
“Given Natilus’s impressive order book and corresponding technology development, working together on integrating the ZA600 as a line-fit engine for Kona can multiply the emissions and cost benefits that are already interesting cargo operators,” commented ZeroAvia founder and CEO Val Miftakov. “We all depend on air cargo operators, and some communities depend on them absolutely, so improving the economics and environmental impacts of these operations while increasing service levels is a massive opportunity.”

Managing Editor

ZeroAvia's Hydrogen-electric Propulsion System Will Power Natilus's Kona Cargo Drone

Natilus, a California-based aerospace start-up developing autonomous cargo airplanes, has successfully flown a subscale technology demonstrator for the first time. The company intends to introduce a family of remotely piloted cargo freighters featuring a unique <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-02-24/natilus-claims-blended-wing-autonomous-freighters-will-transform-air">blended-wing-body</a> (BWB) design that will be capable of carrying more cargo than traditional airplanes of comparable size. Its initial offering will be the Kona, the smallest model in&nbsp;its planned fleet.&nbsp;
Natilus says the initial flight tests of its quarter-scale Kona demonstrator aircraft have validated the performance of the BWB design after three years of extensive wind-tunnel testing. The flights took off from a private runway in Southern California, east of San Diego. During the flights, the aircraft reached speeds of about 70 mph (110 kph), according to Natilus.&nbsp;
“The first flights were controlled by a remote pilot to validate 'open loop' aircraft stability without autopilot,” a Natilus spokesperson told FutureFlight. “This is a huge milestone for aviation as, previously, BWBs were unstable and had to be flown with a 'closed loop' autopilot code.” Natilus is now working to integrate its own autopilot system into the aircraft. While the company’s cargo fleet will be highly autonomous, remote pilots in ground stations will monitor all flights and can take over control of an aircraft if necessary.
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With six flight tests under its belt, Natilus is now shifting its focus to the construction of a full-scale Kona technology demonstrator, which will have a wingspan of 85 feet (26 meters). “We are fully focused on completing the full-scale Kona prototype,” said Natilus co-founder and CEO Aleksey Matyushev. “Our Kona remotely piloted aircraft will be capable of carrying over 9,000 pounds (4.3 metric tons) of freight and will open new markets worldwide. The progress of Natilus in developing autonomous cargo aircraft is a game changer in the logistics industry, providing an efficient and cost-effective solution for shipping goods across oceans.”
The Kona aircraft, also called the N3.8T, is a twin-engine turboprop with a range of 900 nm and a cruising speed of 220 knots. Natilus’s flagship N130T, also known as Nordes, will be the largest model in its fleet with 143 tons of payload capacity, a range of 5,112 nm, and a cruise speed of Mach 0.85. Natilus also plans to offer two intermediate-size designs: The N100T will have a 110-ton payload capacity and a 5,400-nm range; the N60T, also known as Alisio, will have a 66-ton payload capacity and a range of up to 4,142 nm.&nbsp;
While a pair of pusher turboprops will power the Kona aircraft, larger Natilus models will feature two or three upper-wing-mounted ducted fans instead. The engines will run on either jet-A or sustainable aviation fuel. With its aerodynamic body and automated flight controls, Natilus says, its BWB design will produce half as much carbon emissions as traditional aircraft of the same weight while offering a 60 percent reduction in operating costs.&nbsp;
Several cargo carriers have already committed to adding Natilus’s aircraft to their fleet, and the company spokesperson told FutureFlight that some orders have been backed by cash deposits, although the individual&nbsp;did not specify who placed those deposits. Natilus's&nbsp;customers so far include <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-01-27/ameriflight-orders-20-autonomous-cargo-airplanes-natilus">Ameriflight</a>, Astral Aviation, Aurora, Dymond, Volatus Aviation, Flexport, and others that have not yet been disclosed. Natilus now holds purchase agreements for more than 460 aircraft and has an order backlog worth $6.8 billion.

Science & Technology Editor

Autonomous Cargo Aircraft Developer Natilus Begins Flight Testing

Ameriflight has agreed to purchase 20 autonomous freighter aircraft from Natilus, the company announced on Thursday. The Dallas-based Part 135 cargo airline says it is eyeing the Natilus Kona, an unpiloted short-haul feeder aircraft, to support its expedited supply-chain services.&nbsp;
The announcement comes just over one year after Ameriflight revealed its intention&nbsp;to <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-12-08/ameriflight-will-convert-freighter-fleet-autonomous-flight">convert its existing aircraft</a> to have autonomous flight systems created by Merlin Labs. At the time, the company&nbsp;cited&nbsp;the ongoing shortage of commercial pilots as the main reason for automating its fleet. It also&nbsp;said it would initially operate flights with semi-autonomous capabilities before progressing to fully autonomous flights once the FAA will allow it. The airline additionally noted that the new autonomous cargo airplanes were not intended to replace its current fleet; rather, they&nbsp;will complement its existing operations.&nbsp;
Ameriflight,&nbsp;the nation’s largest Part 135 cargo carrier,&nbsp;operates more than 100 aircraft and employs&nbsp;about 150 pilots. The company makes about 1,500 weekly flights to 200 destinations across the United States. Its primary business is the transportation of high-priority air freight to and from remote areas for overnight express carriers such as UPS.
Natilus, a California-based start-up, has been developing unpiloted cargo freighters since 2016. The company says its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-02-24/natilus-claims-blended-wing-autonomous-freighters-will-transform-air">autonomous aircraft will transform the air freight business</a> by lowering the cost of cargo transport and helping to address the pilot shortage. In lieu of a pilot on board the aircraft, a remote pilot would operate multiple simultaneous flights at a ground control station.
“Innovation in design allows the Natilus fleet to carry more volume at lower costs, and the exploration of new sustainable fuels will lower carbon emissions,” said Aleksey Matyushev, co-founder and CEO of Natilus. “The Ameriflight agreement is a major move forward for the air cargo industry to strengthen the regional supply chain.”
The company’s family of unpiloted cargo freighters includes four blended-wing-body aircraft. The N3.8T, also known as the Kona, is expected to have a payload of 4.3 metric tons and a range of 900 nm. Its flagship N130T model is expected to have a payload of 143 metric tons and an intercontinental range of 5,112 nm. The two intermediate-size designs are the N100T (110 metric tons/5,400 nm) and the N60T (66 metric tons/4,142 nm).&nbsp;
The aircraft will be powered by a pair of pusher turboprops (the N3.8T) or two or three upper-wing-mounted ducted fans for the larger models. Their engines will run on jet-A or sustainable aviation fuel. Natilus says its designs offer a 60 percent reduction in the cost of operations and cut&nbsp;carbon emissions in half.
Natilus says it has already begun building a prototype of the N3.8T, and the company aims to begin flight testing with it&nbsp;in August. It expects to make its first deliveries in 2025 but has yet to state the basis for type certification.&nbsp;
With this latest order, Natilus now holds purchase agreements for more than 460 aircraft and has an order backlog worth $6.8 billion. Ameriflight’s 20 Kona aircraft are valued at $134 million.
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Natilus

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