Manta Aircraft Unveils Full-Scale Mock-Up of the Model ANN 6 at China Airshow: A Revolutionary Hybrid-Electric Long Range HeV/STOL Aircraft with Unmatched Versatility & Performance in Regional Air Mobility

Sesto Calende, December 05, 2024 – In a landmark moment for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Manta Aircraft debuts a full-scale mock-up of the all new hybrid-electric long range HeV/STOL ANN Plus at the China Airshow in Zhuhai. This innovative aircraft sets new benchmarks for range, speed, and efficiency within the regional air mobility sector.

​

The ANN 6 is a multipurpose, six-seater air vehicle offering comfortable space for 1 pilot and 5 passengers - for personal mobility, business travel, medical and cargo transport operations. Combining helicopter versatility with airplane efficiency, this aircraft supports both Vertical and Short Takeoff and Landing (VTOL & STOL), enabling operations anywhere - from airports to helipads to unprepared remote areas. With a range of 300 km for VTOL operation and more than 1,000 km using a short airstrip for STOL operation, it offers unmatched mission flexibility, regardless of ground infrastructure. Its large radius allows extended missions without refueling, while batteries are recharged in flight, making it ideal for scenarios like outback, offshore and inter-regional operations. Perfect for both urban and remote locations, it delivers superior performance with minimal reliance on ground support.

​

Pioneering Hybrid Propulsion and Optimized Ducted Fan Design for Extended Range and Speed
The ANN 6 incorporates an advanced hybrid propulsion system, combining electric power with fuel-based efficiency. Eight ducted fans, four of them tiltable positioned in the wings, are optimized for vertical lift, while the winged aircraft design enables efficient and high-speed cruise, placing it at the forefront of the eVTOL and eSTOL aircraft performance. This configuration not only enhances maneuverability in diverse environments but also achieves speeds and ranges that exceed conventional eVTOL air taxi capabilities – hence making it suitable for regional and inter-regional operations. Its hybrid powertrain is designed to offer significant flexibility: batteries recharge during flight, ensuring minimal downtime and maximizing mission readiness.

​

Designed for Mission Flexibility and High-End Performance
The ANN 6 is purpose-built to address a wide variety of applications across urban, remote, and interregional environments. Its operational flexibility and large mission radius make it ideal for a variety of demanding scenarios, including efficient and fast travel options in remote areas, interconnection of smaller cities with no airports close by, remote area support, offshore logistics, and emergency services, where traditional aircraft may fall short due to infrastructure limitations while being more affordable than comparable helicopters. This multi-functional platform allows smooth transitions between VTOL and STOL modes for the greatest possible flexibility in the deployment of future operators.

​

Advanced Technology and Proven Aerodynamic Design
The ANN 6 combines proven aerodynamics with innovative hybrid-electric technology to deliver exceptional performance metrics. Engineered with a conventional canard layout, the aircraft has undergone rigorous wind tunnel testing, non-stop computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and extensive pilot-in-the-loop simulations, along with trials using scaled prototypes. These efforts underscore Manta’s commitment to achieving both aerodynamic efficiency and reliable control under diverse flight conditions. Manta’s experienced team, with over 60 years of cumulative experience in fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft design, participated to more than 20 aircraft certifications in the past. As a result, ANN 6 offers highly reliable projections of payload, range, and fuel efficiency for a variety of ambient conditions.