Natilussaysitsblendedwingdronecancarry60percentmorecargothananaircraftofthesamesize
VolatusAerospace
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Asitstands,airfreightisincrediblyquickbutalsoveryexpensive,whileoceanfreightisfarslowerbutverycost-effective.CalifornianstartupNatilusisouttobridgethegapwithanewbreedofunmannedaircraftthatusesauniqueblendedwingbodytopackin60percentmorecargothananaircraftofthesamesize,withthefirstdeliveriesplannedformidwaythroughthedecade.
TheNatilusN3.8Twillbethefirstcabofftherankforthestartup,withamaximumtake-offweightof8,618kg(19,000lb)andarangeof1,667km(1,035miles).Itwillbecapableofcarryingloadsofupto3,855kg(8,500lb)andhaveenoughspaceforfarmorecargoinsidethanatraditionalaircraftofthesameweight.
Further,Natilusclaimsthecostsandcarbondioxideemissionsperpoundwillbereducedby50percent,comparedtotraditionalairfreight.Thecompanyattributestheseperformancegainstotheblendedwingbody,anairframedesignwithnodistinguishinglinesbetweenthewingsandfuselage,saidtobeafirstforcargoaircraft.
Natilusexpectsdeliveriesforitsunmannedcargodronetokickoffin2025
VolatusAerospace
“Fromafreightperspective,itmakesalotsense,”AlekseyMatyushev,CEOandco-founderNatilus,saidlastyear.“Ithas50percentmorevolumeinternally,soitdoublestheamountofrevenuecargoperflight.Withconventionaldesignsyoustarttorunoutvolumebeforeyoumaximizethetakeoffweightoftheairplane.”
NatilusclaimsthelatestdesignsfortheNatilusN3.8Tinfactallowfor60percentmorecargo.Thetwin-engineturbopropaircraftisdesignedtoberemotelypilotedand,initially,thehopeistouseitforsmallpackagedeliveryonadomesticbasisintheUS,beforelargerversionsrollofftheproductionlinewithfargreaterpayloadcapacitiesandenoughrangeforintercontinentaltravel,includingtheplanned130Tdesignedtocover8,220km(5,112miles).
ThecompanylastyearenteredanagreementwithSiemenstousethecompany'sengineeringsoftwaretocontinuedevelopingitsproducts,andhasnowsignedanagreementwithdronenetworkoperatorVolatusAerospace,whichwillnowreceivetheveryfirstproductionN3.8T.Theaircrafthasundergoneasecondroundofwindtunneltesting,showninthevideobelow,withdeliveriesslatedfor2025.
