The brief

Analyst view

• Raised a $28M Series A led by Draper Associates in February 2026 to finish the first full-scale Kona.
• Claims a 570+ aircraft reservation book worth $24B, mostly Kona; SpiceJet's 100 Horizons depend on certification.
• Full-scale Kona first flight has slipped from 2024 to within 24 months of February 2026.

Technical approach

As reported

Lifting body

The fuselage is a wing

A wide, flat body generates lift itself, so the outer wings can be smaller and the whole plane has less drag.

Engines

Existing engines

Both designs use engines already in service to avoid the cost and risk of a new engine programme.

Materials

Composite airframe

Carbon and glass fibre composites shape the curved body, which is hard to build from aluminium.