For more than a century, passenger aircraft have followed the same basic formula: a long metal tube with wings bolted onto the sides. A new collaboration between a US aerospace startup and a popular YouTube builder is trying to prove that the future of flight may look very different, more like a sweeping manta ray than a flying cylinder.
That collaboration brings together Natilus, a company focused on next-generation aircraft design, and Ramy RC, a YouTuber with more than a million subscribers known for building massive, highly detailed remote-controlled aircraft. Together, they are working on a flying scale prototype of the Natilus Horizon, a blended wing body aircraft designed to dramatically improve efficiency.
The Horizon is no small concept. Natilus says the full-size passenger aircraft could cut fuel consumption by around 30%, carry up to 200 passengers, and offer a cabin layout that feels closer to a lounge than a narrow tube. The blended wing body design merges the fuselage and wings into a single lifting surface, reducing drag and improving overall aerodynamic efficiency.
Ramy RC recently revealed the first phase of the build in a video titled “World’s biggest Prototype Blended Wing Body Aircraft, Natilus Horizon Part 1,” released on December 12. The video has already attracted hundreds of thousands of views, giving the public a rare look at how experimental aircraft concepts move from computer models to real, physical machines.
Founded in 2016, Natilus emerged during renewed interest in blended wing designs, which until now have mostly lived in military and research programs. The company is developing two main aircraft, the Kona cargo freighter and the Horizon passenger plane. By partnering with a high-profile builder, Natilus is aiming to show that this unconventional shape is not just theoretical, but flyable.
The prototype itself is enormous by hobby aircraft standards, with a wingspan of about 24 feet. Its construction blends advanced and surprisingly accessible techniques. Carbon fiber composites form the outer skin, while wood and foam create a lightweight internal structure. Custom 3D-printed molds were used to achieve the precise aerodynamic contours needed for flight.
At this stage, the aircraft is mechanically complete, with engines, wings, and landing gear installed. What has not happened yet is the moment that truly matters, the maiden flight. While simulations suggest the aircraft should perform smoothly, the real test will come when it leaves the ground for the first time.
Interest in the Horizon appears to be growing. Natilus is reportedly moving toward production, searching for a major US manufacturing site, and pursuing FAA certification. If the design works as promised, it could be quieter, cleaner, and far more efficient than today’s airliners.
For now, everything hinges on one thing. All the modeling, materials, and ambition will be judged the moment Ramy opens the throttle and the blended wing lifts into the air.