Natilus’ KONA regional cargo aircraft. Image: Natilus.
Natilus, a startup focused on developing blended-wing aircraft for cargo and passenger applications, on Feb. 10 said it has raised $28 million in an early funding round that will allow it to finish manufacturing the first full-scale prototype of its KONA regional cargo plane that is expected to fly within two years.
The Series A round was led by Draper Associates.
KONA has a range of 900 nautical miles and can carry a payload of 3.8 metric tons. Natilus says the aircraft could support the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment and logistics supply in contested, austere environments like the Indo-Pacific region. The company has discussed KONA with the Army, Navy and Defense Department, it said.
The company is also pursuing commercial markets for KONA.
Natilus is targeting 2029 to bring KONA to market. The San Diego-based startup said it has performed successful wind tunnel and subscale prototype testing and received a patent for the aircraft’s diamond-shaped cargo bay.
The funding round will also be used to continue development of HORIZON EVO, a 200-plus passenger aircraft that Natilus said will compete with the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A321neo. The design of EVO is transitioning to a dual-deck aircraft from a single-deck.
Natilus said its partners include RTX’s Pratt & Whitney engine business, which produces the geared turbofan, P&W Canada, the PT6 engine, CFM International, the LEAP engine, and RTX’s Collins Aerospace for the cargo loading system.
The combined $24 billion order book for the KONA and EVO exceeds 570 aircraft with most of the orders for KONA, Natilus said. Nolinor Aviation, Flexport and Ameriflight have reservations for KONA.
Natilus says its blended-wing aircraft reduce fuel usage by 30 percent and carbon emissions and operational costs by 50 percent.
The funding round included participation from Type One Ventures, The Veterans Fund, Flexport, New Vista Capital, Soma Capital, Liquid 2 VC, VU Venture Partners and Wave FX.