by NatilusUS
Carry regional freight more cheaply by fitting more cargo in a wing-shaped body, and prove the blended-wing design on a small plane before Natilus attempts an airliner.
Full-scale prototype being built; first flight due by early 2028, slipped from 2024
Updated 10 Feb 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week
The cargo hold sits inside the lifting body, fitting more volume than a tube freighter of similar size.
Two Pratt & Whitney turboprops push from the rear of the body.
Designed to fly with a pilot or remotely; early subscale flights showed it stays stable without a complex autopilot.
| Spec | Kona |
|---|---|
| Payload | 3.8 tR (reported) |
| Range | 900 nmiR (reported) |
| Planned production | 60 a yearR (reported) |
| Subscale prototype speed | 70 mphR (reported) |
R reported by the company
| Spec | Kona | Natilus Horizon |
|---|---|---|
| Payload | 3.8 tR (reported) | 25 tR (reported) |
| Range | 900 nmiR (reported) | 3,500 nmiR (reported) |
R reported by the company
Natilus
Blended-wing cargo plane and airliner
Natilus is a San Diego startup founded in 2016 that designs blended-wing-body aircraft, where the fuselage itself is shaped like a wing and adds lift. It is building Kona, a regional cargo plane, and designing Horizon, a 200-plus-seat airliner.
