The design is ambitious. Its Horizon passenger aircraft, shaped more like a manta ray than a traditional tube-and-wing jet, promises up to 30 percent lower fuel burn and roughly 40 percent more cabin space than today’s narrow-body workhorses.
San Diego aerospace startup Natilus is aiming squarely at aviation’s biggest incumbents — and says it intends to become “the next Boeing.” The company has unveiled new renderings of its blended-wing-body passenger jet, secured $28 million in fresh funding, and added former Boeing leadership to its board as it pushes toward first flight later this decade.
The design is ambitious. Its Horizon passenger aircraft, shaped more like a manta ray than a traditional tube-and-wing jet, promises up to 30 percent lower fuel burn and roughly 40 percent more cabin space than today’s narrow-body workhorses. A double-deck layout separates passengers and cargo, while retaining existing engines and airport compatibility — a pragmatic move in an industry where certification risk can sink startups.
Natilus plans to fly its Kona cargo aircraft in 2028, followed by Horizon in 2029, targeting commercial service in the early 2030s The company says it holds a backlog of 580 aircraft valued at up to $23 billion, with customers including SpiceJet, Ameriflight and Nolinor Aviation Backed by investors such as Tim Draper and capital from former Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg’s firm, Natilus faces the industry’s central hurdle: scale.
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| Natilus plans to fly its Kona cargo aircraft in 2028, followed by Horizon in 2029, targeting commercial service in the early 2030s |
Developing a new commercial aircraft can cost billions, and manufacturing at volume demands massive infrastructure. The company is scouting sites for a 250,000-square-foot factory, with longer-term plans for a 3.5-million-square-foot facility that could employ up to 11,000 workers In an industry dominated by Boeing and Airbus, ambition is cheap. Certification, capital and production discipline are not.
Natilus is betting that efficiency gains, strategic partnerships and timing will give it a runway long enough to challenge the duopoly.
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