San Diego company creating the world’s first aviation factory of its kind
- Natilus is one of the most innovative aircraft firms in the world
- The San Diego-based company is creating a world-first aircraft
- It’s now planning to build the first aircraft facility of its kind
Published on Mar 25, 2025 at 9:22 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Mar 25, 2025 at 9:35 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Natilus is helping aviation become an extremely cool and fascinating industry once again.
Recent years have seen some phenomenal developments and evolution in the field.
The San Diego-based company is out to set itself at the forefront of this innovation.
And it’s creating an aviation factory that happens to be the first of its kind.
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Natilus: Aircraft pioneers and innovators
In case you haven’t heard of it, Natilus is a truly fascinating aircraft company.
The San Diego firm is, in fact, one of the most innovative aviation companies in the world.
In particular, Natilus is known for its work on the blended wing body aircraft.
And it’s pretty much exactly what you’re imagining it to be.
Essentially, this blended, hybrid model blends the wings and the fuselage into one continuous body.
In particular, the company is working on two products with this design – the Kona and the Horizon.
The Kona is envisioned as a cargo transporter, while the Horizon is planned as a people transporter.
As a family of four different aircraft, each Kona is categorized by its cargo capacity, which ranges from 34 metric tons all the way up to 143 metric tons.
Can the Kona vision become a reality?
This story has made news is because the dream is taking a major step forward.
The aircraft will be powered by ZA600 hydrogen-electric engines.
They’re supplied by a British-American start-up named ZeroAvia.
ZeroAvia’s various engines are good for a reported range of distances, from 1,305 miles to 5,883 miles.
Natilus to be US-built
According to reports, this game-changing aircraft is set to be built in the US.
Several aircraft companies have reported strong interest in the San Diego firm’s designs and blueprints.
Astral Aviation, Nolinor Aviation, and Aurora International have all expressed interest in the Kona.
In particular, the 43-ton variant appears to be a big crowd pleaser.
When the facility is operational, it’ll be home to the world’s first blended wing-body aircraft.
Recent reports suggest that the new Natilus facility will be around 250,000 square feet in size.
It will also reportedly produce around 60 Kona aircraft per year.
We’re extremely excited to see what comes of Natilus and their future plans.
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Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
