New Era of Freight Transport – Unmanned Cargo Planes On The Horizon.
A startup aviation company in San Diego called Natilus Inc. is planning to keep the San Diego aviation history alive by developing a large unmanned cargo aircraft that could someday revolutionise the air freight and logistics industry forever. Unmanned aircraft are the hottest news in the freight industry right now, brought on by the growth in the personal drone market – especially in the ecommerce sector.
Blended-wing body (BWB) design.
Natilus plans to design and manufacture a range of freighter aircraft with blended-wing body (BWB) configuration. Unlike traditional tube-and-wing airplanes we’re all familiar with, BWBs combine the tail, wing and body into a single wing. This can mean 30 percent more fuel efficiency than that of conventional jets, making air freight costs more competitive than cargo shipping and dramatically improving delivery times.
“The blended-wing design with a diamond cargo configuration allows for more volume, helping customers realise the reality of today’s e-commerce freight,” says Aleksey Matyushev, CEO of Natilus. “For the same weight of tube-and-wing aircraft, [our plane] will transport more than twice as much revenue cargo for the same trip, lowering costs by 60 percent and reducing CO2 emissions by 50 percent.”
Collins Aerospace for the design.
The new blended-wing body planes will use existing ground cargo infrastructure and standard air cargo containers (cans). Natilus recently signed a contract with Collins Aerospace for the design, development and integration of a specialised loading system to create better performance and efficiencies. This new era of freight transport – using unmanned cargo will revolutionise how freight is delivered around the world. Driver-less trucks
Engineers at Collins Aerospace are developing a unique cargo loading system, featuring rolling ball mats, attachments and standard flip-up latches. It will accommodate LD3-New and LD3-45 containers and bulk loads.
Current Air Freight Market.
The air freight market is currently dominated by aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and 777. According to Matyushev, Natilus’ planes will feature greater efficiency and cost-savings by increasing cargo volume by 60 percent. He claims this will lower the cost of freight operations by 60 percent and cut carbon emissions in half.
“Currently, 90 percent of all goods are transported worldwide via shipping, but 90 percent of all ‘value goods’ are shipped through air freight, because of current capacity and cost,” says Matyushev. “Our goal is to dramatically change this equation through efficiencies of design and operations to make air freight more competitive and capture market share.
$6 billion in pre-orders for the new aircraft.
Natilus recently announced more than $6 billion in pre-orders for its aircraft. The company is currently building the 3.8T, which features a 90-foot wingspan. The twin turboprop boasts a payload of 3.8 metric tons and a range of 900 nautical miles, or 1666.80 kilometres.
“The design of the 3.8T is complete and has undergone initial wind tunnel testing,” says Matyushev. “ Natilus are also initiating production of the vertical tails of the aircraft. First flights are scheduled for 2023.
A 9260 kilometre long-haul range.
In addition to the 3.8T, Natilus eventually plans to produce three other cargo aircraft: the N60T (60-ton payload), N100T (100-ton payload) and N130T (130-ton payload). The latter two models will be equipped with jet engines to enable long-range flights of more than 5,000 nautical miles or 9260 kimometres.
“The main difference between the products is payload and range,” explains Matyushev. “The smaller aircraft are designed around shorter routes carrying less cargo for feeder operations, while the larger models are designed around long-haul routes, which are centered around larger capacities and ranges. [Each model] is designed in payload capacity, engines and range to meet all those missions.
The entire blended-wing body structure is built from carbon fiber which will reduce the part count on the aircraft. However, aluminum components will still be required to reinforce some parts.
Aircraft will be assembled in a 12,000-square-foot factory at Brown Field Municipal Airport on the south side of San Diego, near the U.S.-Mexico border. After building a prototype plane, Natilus begin the production phase of the program.
“We will focus on simplifying assemblies and creating a manufacturing line which is able to produce five to 10 aircraft per month,” says Matyushev.
Take the hassle out of booking freight jobs.
If you’re looking for a freight technology platform that will take the hassle out of booking freight jobs, look no further than One World Courier.
We offer cheaper freight and shipping rates than you’d get by going direct to the carrier, and our smart algorithm makes it easier than ever to find the best route, delivery, and price for your shipment.
So what are you waiting for?
Make the switch to the One World Courier freight technology platform today and see how to slash your carrier costs.