Natilus Future Aircraft
The Natilus N3.8T is the fastest aircraft to fly in the future. Air transport is incredibly fast but very expensive, while sea transport is very slow but very inexpensive. California start-up Natilus is aiming to cut costs with a new type of drone that packs 60 percent more cargo than the same size aircraft using a unique wing system, with the first deliveries scheduled in the middle of the decade. In the future, we will all have unmanned aircraft.
The Natilus N3.8T will be the first car in the rankings for the startup, with a maximum take-off weight of 8,618 kg (19,000 lb) and 1,667 km (1,035 mi). It will be able to carry loads of up to 3,855 kg (,500 8,500) and will have enough space to carry more cargo than a conventional aircraft of the same weight.
Furthermore, Natilus claims that costs per pound and carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 50 percent compared to conventional air travel. The company claims that these performance gains are due to the airframe design that does not distinguish between mixed wing body, wings, and fuselage, which is the first time for cargo aircraft.
“From an inventory perspective, this is very useful,” said Aleksey Matyushev, CEO and co-founder of Natilus, last year. “It has a 50 percent extra volume domestically, so it doubles the revenue cargo volume for an aircraft. With conventional designs, the volume can be exhausted before you increase the takeoff weight of the aircraft.
Natilus claims that the latest designs for the Natilus N3.8T actually allow up to 60 percent more inventory. The dual-engine turboprop aircraft is designed to be operated remotely, initially hoping to be used for small package delivery on a domestic basis in the United States before large editions leave the production line with higher payload capacity and ample range. For intercontinental travel, including the planned 130T, designed to cover 8,220 km (5,112 miles).
Delivery is scheduled for 2025.
The company signed with Siemens last year to use the company’s engineering software to further improve its products and has now signed a deal with Volatus Aerospace, the drone network operator, which will now receive the first production N3.8T. The aircraft is undergoing a second round wind test,