Soon the the high value cargo that's currently zipping through the skies could come without a high carbon price tag, thanks to a new partnership between the hybrid hydrogen-electric engine developer ZeroAvia and aerospace company Natilus.
Natilus is one of the first companies angling to take blended-wing body aircraft to market, and those new designs could soon be propelled through the air by ZeroAvia's Hydrogen-electric engines.
It's exactly the blended-wing design that makes Natilus' aircraft a perfect launchpad for ZeroAvia's engine systems. The design allows for increased hydrogen storage while keeping payload capacity and range the same.
The partnership comes as ZeroAvia's new propulsion technology is already in flight testing and getting ready for certification by 2025.
With the engine already designed into Natilus' aircraft, once ZeroAvia receives approvals those planes could be flight-ready very very soon.
“Natilus has a long-term commitment to being a responsible steward of our environment, instituting practices that can protect the environment
through continual improvements to save fuel and water, reduce waste, air emissions, noise, and material consumption," said Aleksey Matyushev, the co-founder and chief executive of Natilus.
The cargo and passenger plane designer said that it already has $6.8 billion in orders and 460 aircraft in pre-orders from major airlines and shipping companies like Ameriflight, Volatus Aerospace, Flexport, Astral, Aurora International and Dymond.
“Given Natilus’ impressive order book and corresponding technology development, working together on integrating the ZA600 as a line-fit engine for Kona can multiply the emissions and costs benefits that are already interesting cargo operators," said ZeroAvia chief executive Val Miftakov in a statement. "We all depend on air cargo operators, and some communities depend on them absolutely, so improving the economics and environmental impacts of these operations while increasing service levels is a massive opportunity.”