New tariffs on critical materials are expected to exacerbate aviation supply chain challenges and further delay deliveries of cargo and passenger aircraft to U.S. airlines. By establishing its first manufacturing facility for blended-wing-body aircraft in the U.S., Natilus is well-positioned to mitigate the impact of potential trade restrictions and supply chain disruptions.
Natilus's family of blended-wing-body aircraft will be made with carbon fiber airframes and offer major advantages in fuel consumption, carbon emissions and payload capacity. The latest customer that has reserved multiple production slots of KONA for its operations in northern Canada is Nolinor Aviation. Capable of navigating rugged terrain and extreme weather conditions, KONA provides game-changing improvements in operational costs, with a 30% reduction in fuel consumption, 40% more volumetric capacity and a 50% decrease in carbon emissions – all while using existing engine technology.
"By manufacturing the world's first commercial blended-wing-body aircraft domestically, we hope to strengthen the U.S.'s position in the aviation industry," said Nolan Giblin, Head of Business Development at Natilus. "This is the first of several moves Natilus has planned in its larger roadmap to supply major airlines with a more sustainable and cost-effective aircraft."
Once operational, the 250,000-square-foot facility will have the production capacity for 60 KONA aircraft annually. As part of the build, Natilus will hire 300 full-time skilled employees across manufacturing, aerospace, propulsion and test engineering, including production and quality roles, test pilots and machine technicians.
For Phase I, Natilus is prioritizing geographic regions in the U.S. with strong state and local incentive programs and facilities with adequate runway length, airspace clearance for testing, training and selloff facilities and proximity to suppliers and transportation. Natilus's search for its first manufacturing location builds upon the recent trend of aerospace technology companies –such as Boom Supersonic, Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation – that have successfully found suitable hubs in the U.S. with access to skilled labor. With interest from major real estate development partners, Natilus expects to announce further details in the coming months.
Natilus is currently engaged with many prospective states and countries including the U.S., UAE, India and Saudi Arabia about potential sites for the second facility. In the second phase, Natilus plans to develop a 2.5 million square foot facility to accommodate production of the HORIZON passenger aircraft, which is classed in the same narrowbody segment as the Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s in use today. Anticipated to be one of the largest manufacturing sites of its kind, the facility is expected to employ around 3,000 skilled workers once it comes online in the early 2030s.
"We believe that more competition breeds better planes," said Aleksey Matyushev, Co-Founder and CEO of Natilus. "As trade routes become increasingly complex, we are positioned to manufacture a carbon fiber aircraft that will meet the needs of our customers, who are all searching for the most efficient way to transport cargo and people."
About Natilus
Natilus is a San Diego-based company developing a family of hyper-efficient blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft designed to transport people and cargo more sustainably and efficiently than ever before. Natilus's BWB aircraft unlock improved aviation economics by reducing fuel consumption by 30% while increasing payload capability by 40%. Founded in 2016, the Natilus team is comprised of innovators from General Atomics, Northrop Grumman, Skunkworks, SpaceX, and Piper Aircraft. Learn more at natilus.co.
SOURCE Natilus
Share this article