Natilus Unveils Double-Decker Plane That Burns 30% Less Fuel

A California aerospace startup is turning heads with a new aircraft design that looks nothing like the planes you're used to seeing at the gate.

Natilus just unveiled its Horizon Evo, a double-decker passenger plane with an unusual blended-wing shape that merges the fuselage and wings into one smooth lifting surface. The result? An aircraft that burns 30% less fuel than conventional planes while carrying more passengers and cargo.

The company secured $28 million in new funding to bring this futuristic design closer to reality. Unlike traditional tube-shaped aircraft, the Horizon Evo's entire body generates lift, dramatically reducing drag and improving efficiency.

The two-deck configuration solves multiple problems at once. Passengers sit on the upper deck with more window seats than traditional narrow-body planes, while the lower deck holds 12 standard cargo containers. Airlines can use their existing loading equipment without costly modifications.

Safety improvements are built into every detail. Earlier blended-wing concepts faced criticism because some passengers would sit too far from emergency exits. Natilus made the new design narrower without losing interior space, putting everyone closer to exits and creating better evacuation paths.

The aircraft will carry between 150 and 250 passengers depending on configuration, with a cruising speed around Mach 0.79 and a range of 4,027 miles. That's enough to fly coast to coast or cross the Atlantic with room to spare.

Operating costs could drop by 50% compared to current narrow-body aircraft, potentially making tickets more affordable for travelers. The plane will fit standard airport gates, meaning airlines won't need to rebuild their infrastructure to accommodate it.

Why This Inspires

Aviation has looked essentially the same for decades, with incremental improvements but no revolutionary leaps. The Horizon Evo represents the kind of bold thinking needed to address climate concerns while meeting surging travel demand.

The narrow-body market faces a shortage of 17,000 aircraft in coming years. Natilus CEO Aleksey Matyushev says airlines are genuinely excited about addressing "real pain points happening in aviation today around safety, passenger experience, and plane shortages."

Building the aircraft from carbon composites keeps weight down while maximizing strength. The wider body provides 40% more interior volume than conventional planes, meaning more comfortable cabins and better cargo capacity without increasing the aircraft's footprint.

Natilus has been testing subscale prototypes and conducting wind tunnel experiments since 2016. With new funding secured, the company is targeting entry into service in the early 2030s, moving from theoretical concepts to commercial reality.

The aviation industry accounts for about 2.5% of global carbon emissions, and that number is growing as more people fly. A plane that cuts fuel consumption by nearly a third while reducing costs could make sustainable air travel accessible to millions more people.