8 Clockwise Seed Fund has invested in Natilus, a US aircraft developer working on blended-wing-body designs intended to improve aerodynamic efficiency and payload capacity. The investment, announced in October 2026, adds 8 Clockwise to Natilus’s investor group as the company progresses its cargo and passenger aircraft programmes. The investment amount was not specified in the announcement.
Natilus’s first aircraft programme, KONA, is a regional cargo aircraft designed around a blended-wing-body configuration. Unlike conventional tube-and-wing aircraft, the design integrates the fuselage and wings into a continuous lifting body. Natilus states that KONA is designed to carry a payload of 3.8 metric tonnes over a range of approximately 900 nautical miles, targeting regional freight and short-haul logistics operations.
The company has flown a subscale KONA prototype and completed the critical design review for the wing of its full-scale prototype, according to 8 Clockwise. The US Federal Aviation Administration has also assigned the programme a project number for its Part 23 certification process. These milestones precede full-scale prototype testing and do not indicate that the aircraft has received type certification.
Natilus is also developing HORIZON EVO, a blended-wing-body passenger aircraft designed to accommodate more than 200 passengers. The company’s proposed configuration features a dual-deck arrangement, with passengers on the upper deck and cargo space below. The programme aims to apply the integrated airframe concept to passenger transport while maintaining compatibility with existing airport infrastructure.
Natilus projects that its blended-wing designs could reduce fuel consumption by 30% and carbon emissions by 50%, while increasing payload capacity by 40%. These figures represent projected performance benefits rather than verified results from commercial fleet operations. The company has also cited reservations for more than 570 aircraft across its commercial programmes, with a stated order-book value of US$24 billion.
The aircraft’s integrated geometry places emphasis on structural efficiency and weight management. Natilus has previously identified composite design work among its supplier collaborations, although the latest investment announcement does not detail the materials, laminate configurations, or manufacturing methods planned for its full-scale aircraft structures.
The investment follows Natilus’s US$28 million Series A financing announced in February 2026. That round was intended to support completion of KONA’s full-scale prototype and further development of HORIZON EVO. Natilus’s next steps include advancing prototype manufacturing, engineering validation, and the regulatory work required before either aircraft can enter commercial service.
Source: 8 Clockwise | News
