This article is based on an official press release from Natilus.

Natilus Unveils “Horizon Evo” with Dual-Deck Design to Speed FAA Certification

San Diego-based aerospace manufacturer Natilus has officially unveiled the Horizon Evo, a significant evolution of its flagship passenger aircraft. Announced on February 10, 2026, the updated design features a dual-deck configuration intended to address critical regulatory feedback and streamline integration into existing airline fleets. Alongside the design update, the company confirmed it has secured $28 million in Series A funding led by Draper Associates.

The announcement marks a strategic pivot for the Blended Wing Body (BWB) developer. By moving away from a single-volume fuselage to a split-level layout, Natilus aims to solve two of the most persistent challenges facing BWB adoption: emergency passenger evacuation and compatibility with standard airport cargo infrastructure.

A Strategic Pivot: The Dual-Deck Configuration

According to the company’s press release, the Horizon Evo introduces a distinct separation between passenger and cargo operations. The aircraft will feature an upper deck dedicated to approximately 200 passengers and a lower deck designed specifically to accommodate standard LD3-45 shipping containers.

This design change is a direct response to feedback from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and commercial Airlines partners. In previous BWB concepts, the deep, wide fuselage created significant hurdles for emergency egress, as passengers seated in the center of the aircraft were too far from exits to meet the 90-second evacuation standard. The new dual-deck layout mimics the cross-section of traditional widebody jets, allowing for standard door heights and evacuation procedures.

Natilus CEO Aleksey Matyushev emphasized the pragmatic nature of this shift in a statement regarding the launch:

“By moving into this dual-deck layout, it pushes us into a more traditional, I would say known, operational capability that the FAA is more comfortable with.”

Infrastructure Compatibility

Beyond safety certification, the redesign addresses operational logistics. Airlines have long expressed concern that radical new airframe shapes would require expensive modifications to ground support equipment. By standardizing the lower deck for LD3 containers, Natilus claims the Horizon Evo can be serviced by existing cargo loaders without modification, removing a major barrier to entry for commercial carriers.

Technical Specifications and Performance Claims

Natilus positions the Horizon Evo as a hyper-efficient alternative to the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A321neo. While the aircraft retains the aerodynamic benefits of a blended wing, the company states it will offer significant environmental and economic advantages over current “tube-and-wing” designs.

Key specifications released by the company include:

• Capacity: Approximately 200 passengers in a two-class configuration, up to 250 in a single-class layout.
• Range: Capable of transcontinental and transatlantic routes (e.g., New York to London).
• Efficiency: Projected 30% reduction in fuel burn and 50% lower emissions per seat compared to traditional narrowbodies.
• Cargo Volume: 40% more payload volume than comparable aircraft.
• Propulsion: Designed for compatibility with existing engine types (such as the CFM LEAP or PW1000G) to minimize technical risk.

The aircraft is designed to fit within Gate Class C4, ensuring it can utilize existing Airports gates without requiring infrastructure expansion.

Timeline and Funding

The company’s roadmap outlines a staggered approach to entry into service. Natilus plans to fly its smaller cargo drone prototype, the Kona, within approximately 24 months (late 2027 or early 2028). The Kona is pursuing FAA Part 23 certification.

The passenger-focused Horizon Evo, which will require more rigorous FAA Part 25 certification, is targeted for commercial service in the early 2030s. The newly secured $28 million in Series A funding will support the next phase of development, including wind tunnel testing and sub-scale prototyping.

AirPro News Analysis

Pragmatism over Perfection

The shift to the Horizon Evo represents a “reality check” for the blended wing body sector. While pure flying wings offer maximum theoretical aerodynamic efficiency, they have historically failed to cross the “Valley of Death” toward certification due to safety and infrastructure incompatibilities. By compromising on a dual-deck design, Natilus is signaling to investors and regulators that it prioritizes a certifiable product over a theoretically perfect one.

However, significant hurdles remain. The $28 million raised is a fraction of the capital required to certify a clean-sheet commercial airliner, a process that typically costs between $1 billion and $5 billion. For context, competitor JetZero recently received $235 million from the U.S. Air Force for a demonstrator alone. While the dual-deck design mitigates evacuation risks, proving that a non-tubular fuselage can meet strict safety standards remains a massive engineering challenge. The “early 2030s” timeline is ambitious, and industry observers will be watching closely to see if the company can secure the substantial follow-on funding needed to move from wind tunnels to flight tests.

Sources

• Natilus Press Release