'Last chance' for US importers to stock up before possible east coast port strike
The lead time for Chinese exports to the US east coast is still just over ...
TFII: SOLID AS USUALMAERSK: WEAKENINGF: FALLING OFF A CLIFFAAPL: 'BOTTLENECK IN MAINLAND CHINA'AAPL: CHINA TRENDSDHL: GROWTH CAPEXR: ANOTHER SOLID DELIVERYMFT: HERE COMES THE FALLDSV: LOOK AT SCHENKER PERFORMANCEUPS: A WAVE OF DOWNGRADES DSV: BARGAIN BINKNX: EARNINGS OUTODFL: RISING AND FALLING AND THEN RISING
TFII: SOLID AS USUALMAERSK: WEAKENINGF: FALLING OFF A CLIFFAAPL: 'BOTTLENECK IN MAINLAND CHINA'AAPL: CHINA TRENDSDHL: GROWTH CAPEXR: ANOTHER SOLID DELIVERYMFT: HERE COMES THE FALLDSV: LOOK AT SCHENKER PERFORMANCEUPS: A WAVE OF DOWNGRADES DSV: BARGAIN BINKNX: EARNINGS OUTODFL: RISING AND FALLING AND THEN RISING
Flexport has placed an advanced purchase commitment for two of Natilus’s larger cargo UAV designs, the 100t, pitting cargo drone technology squarely in competition with conventional aircraft.
The US company is producing the world’s first purpose-designed and manufactured autonomous aircraft for air freight transport and, with others, including Volatus Aerospace, Astral Aviation, Aurora and Dymond, Flexport’s order brings Natilus’s advanced purchase commitments to some $6bn for as many as 440 unmanned aircraft of varying sizes.
They all conform to ‘blended wing body’ (BWB) geometry, where the aircraft’s fuselage generates lift along with the wings. And despite its unusual appearance, Natilus’s designs are based on established aerodynamic principles, similar to the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, a stealth bomber.
The 100t, with two high-bypass turbofan engines, 110 tonnes of cargo capacity and 5,400 nautical miles of range, will likely be one of the largest examples of a BWB aircraft, outside of renderings.
Natilus CEO Aleksey Matyushev said: “In parallel with the development of our family of autonomous aircraft, we are working closely with customers to increase the efficiency of air transport and make it more competitive and safer than ocean shipping.
“Today, there are only two ways to move cargo internationally, by air and by sea. The difference between the cost and time of these two modes is dramatic. Sea freight is currently 13 times less expensive than air freight, but 50 times slower in delivery.
“Natilus intends to revolutionise the transport industry by providing the timeliness of air freight at an affordable cost reduction of 60%, making air cargo transport substantially more competitive.”
Comment on this article
Paul Gooch
February 10, 2022 at 3:17 pm“…there are only two ways to move cargo internationally, by air and by sea.” So rail from China to Europe is not international? Or a truck from The Netherlands to Italy is not international?
Alex Lennane
February 10, 2022 at 4:01 pmYes, we spotted that too!