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Natilus Raises $28 Million to Speed KONA Cargo Prototype as Dual-Deck Horizon Evo Targets Certification

The redesign targets FAA egress compliance to ease certification.

Overview

  • Draper Associates led the $28 million Series A, joined by Type One Ventures, The Veterans Fund, Flexport and others, to fund KONA's final assembly and initial flight tests.
  • Natilus targets KONA's first full-scale flight within about 24 months, with commercial deliveries planned by the end of the decade.
  • Horizon Evo is now a dual-deck BWB with an upper passenger cabin and lower cargo bay, adding more exits to address egress, more windows and overhead space, and a target entry into service in the early 2030s.
  • The company says both aircraft are designed to use standard narrow-body gates and existing cargo-handling equipment to maintain airport interoperability and faster turnarounds.
  • Natilus reports more than 570 preorders valued at about $24 billion and is scouting a 250,000‑square‑foot plant targeting roughly 60 aircraft a year, while claiming about 30% lower fuel burn and 50% lower operating costs.