REGIONAL AVIATION RETHOUGHT
If you are interested in new solutions of more efficient use of regional airspace or the development of new advanced inter-regional air mobility options for private use or efficient solutions for special missions, then Manta Aircraft is for you.
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Below we have summarized all relevant information about Manta Aircraft and the nextgen high-performance hybrid-electric eV/STOL air vehicle platform for you. For further information please contact us at any time.
A NEW ERA OF REGIONAL AIR MOBILITY
Welcome to Manta Aircraft, where we believe that travel and essential air operations should not be limited by distance. While aircraft and ground transport offer efficient and convenient options for long and short distances respectively, what about the regional distances in between? Planes are tied to runways while helicopters are expensive to operate and maintain. This is where we come in.
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At Manta Aircraft, we provide the basis for many models to better connect regions, open up new possibilities for aerial applications and offer more efficient solutions for existing operations - be it in the field of specialised transport such as human organs, rapid emergency/disaster control & response, infrastructure surveillance or even point-to-need business aviation applications, to name just a few examples of the multifunctional platform's applications.
TAKING OFF LIKE A HELICOPTER.
FLYING LIKE AN AIRPLANE.
At Manta Aircraft we combine the best of both worlds. Our aircraft, based on a winged design in combination with a very light and powerful hybrid-electric propulsion system, are thus not only optimised for the eV/STOL lift, but also for the cruise, resulting in very efficient and economical use at ranges of 300-800+ km at high speeds.
THE PLATFORM APPROACH:
MULTIPLE MODELS, HIGHLY ADAPTABLE
A family of hybrid-electric Vertical and Short Take-off and Landing (HeV/STOL) air vehicles. It means that they can take-off and land vertically whenever needed or convenient, but also operate from very short airstrips with considerably higher payload. Their hybrid propulsion gives them higher performance in terms of longer endurance and range, and their airplane-like architecture allows for higher speed and climb characteristics, as well as superior maneuverability in safer flying conditions.
MODEL "ANN 2"
"ANN 2" is a twin tandem-seat, fully carbon-fiber structure air vehicle for personal mobility and a wide range of utility missions. Fast, small, agile and with exceptional performance in the AAM sector.
MODEL "ANN Plus"
"ANN Plus" is a fully carbon-fiber structure air vehicle with four to six comfortable seats for personal mobility, business travel & transport operations. Styled, eye-catching, powerful, agile, performing, smooth rider.
MODEL "ANN Drone"
"ANN Drone" is a fully carbon-fiber structure high-performance drone version which can be controlled remotely or operated autonomously. Range, speed and climb performance are above average due to the design features and the advanced hybrid-electric propulsion.
CHARACTERISTICS
RANGE: 300 km - 800+ km
CRUISING SPEED: 250 - 300 km/h
PASSENGERS: 0-6, optionally piloted or autonomous
HYBRID-ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUSELAGE FIXED ELECTRIC DUCTED FANS OPTIMIZED FOR
VERTICAL FLIGHT
TILTING ELECTRIC DUCTED FANS FOR THRUST VECTORING
FULL COMPOSITE STRUCTURE
DIFFERENTIALLY MOVING CANARDS
FLY-BY-WIRE – FULLY COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEM
USER-FRIENDLY HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE – HOTAS
ADVANCED SAFETY SYSTEMS - EG. BALLISTIC PARACHUTE
LANDING GEAR FOR STOL (HIGHER MTOW)
BENEFITS
A real, meaningful solution for regional and inter-regional air mobility.
LONG ENDURANCE & RANGE
300 - 800+ km
The hybrid propulsion system allows an outstanding range for regional and intercity flights without the need for stops or refueling.
HIGH CRUISING SPEED
250-300 kmh
High cruising speed enables fast commuting on medium and long distances
VERY LOW INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS
Only gas/(eco)fuel
No ground infrastructures needed: Short ground time and max availability. No recharge stations needed.
HIGH MANOEUVRABILITY
Mix of airplane and VTOL characteristics
Exceptional maneuvering capabilities:Â exceptional pitch, roll and yaw rates performance
AFFORDABLE OPERATING COST
Much lower than for helicopters
Total cost of ownership much lower than the one of helicpoters (~60% less) or conventional aircraft.
EASY TO DEPLOY
It fits in a road trailer towed
by a car.
Modular design allows quick disassembly and assembly for transportation and repair: Wing, Canard, Fuselage, Power Pack Unit
ECO-FRIENDLY
Environmentally friendly and prepared for future technologies
Operating on bio diesel/Jet A-1 or synthetic fuels. No high costs for battery charging or expensive replacements. High-performance batteries with long life cycle. Pre-arranged for zero-emission hydrogen power plants.
EASY TO FLY
Without many years of experience
Easier to fly than conventional aircraft thanks to the advanced HMI and full fly-by-wire controls.
FLEXIBLE MISSIONS
Many configuration and upgrade options
Configuration flexibility adapts to different missions and operators (sensors, onboard systems, etc.).
LOW NOISE
Lower than rotorcraft solutions
Ducted fans and thrust vectored jets are significantly quieter and with higher frequencies than in rotorcraft applications.
READY TO BE USED AUTONOMOUSLY
Systems are prepared
The aircraft platform is technologically prepared to be piloted but also to fly remotely controlled or autonomously.
ENHANCED SAFETY SYSTEMS
Certified for the safety of the passengers
Ballistic parachute, energy-absorbing crew cell, etc.
INTERIORS
The complete, integrated cabin interior is designed in such a way that it is very clear and clearly structured for pilots, but at the same time offers a high level of comfort thanks to high-quality materials and seat er- gonomics. The design aims to make not only short but also longer flights as pleasant as possible for the pilot and passengers. The key point here is the central touch display, by means which a multitude of activities, display and control options are possible. In addition, we use control elements fami- liar to pilots, such as the throttle, to ensure easy entry and handling with regard to the high performance and maneuverability of the models. The design is also tailored for maximum safety.
COCKPIT
SEATS
"We create interiors that focus on function, clearly arranged and easy to use. In the end, it's all about ergonomics and style"
MISSIONS
The ANN platform is suitable for a variety of different applications.
BUSINESS TRAVEL & AIR LIMOUSINE SERVICE
Forget airports, regional intercity connec- tions or business charter flights. The ANNTM platform offers the right low-cost alternative to turboprop and light airplanes: point-to- point connection, fast cruising speed, easy flying, smooth ride, and a high standard of stylish appearance
LAW ENFORCEMENT
The ANN platform is pre-arranged for ope- rations such as law-enforcement, land and traffic surveillance, search of persons and quick reaction in case of emergencies. Helicopters and light aircraft are currently used for this purpose. The solutions offered by the ANN platform make these tasks more efficient with significantly lower costs, enhanced visibility, low-speed maneuverability, minimum vibrations for sensors, less noise.
INFRASTRUCTURE SURVEILLANCE
The ANN platform offers lower maintenance and deployment costs, enhanced visibility, autonomous capabilities and fast cruising speed, with clear advantages over the use of helicopters and conventional drones. This is particularly effective for missions such as power lines surveillance, gas/oil pipelines surveillance, and inspection of solar and wind energy-production parks.
DISASTER CONTROL & FIRST AID RESPONSE
Significantly less expensive than legacy helicopters or light aircraft, as well as autonomous flight capable, with enhanced visibility, fast cruising speed and low infrastructure needs. These are the distinct advantages of the ANNTM platform for quick reach of pin- point locations or for scanning wide areas.
SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION
With more efficient overall costs, fast cruising speed and very low infrastructure needs, the ANN platform offers a perfect solution for transports to remote drilling/oil platforms as well as assembly work in the mountains or at inaccessible sites, in com- parison with conventional helicopters.
CARGO DELIVERY
The ANN platform is a perfect solution for regional freight transport or to refurbish hard-to-reach sites such as alpine huts. It represents a new category of efficient AAM, boosted by the point-to-point capabilities with low infrastructure needs and cost-benefit advantages.
LEISURE FLIGHTS
The ANNTM platform stands well above all alternatives for private flights, sport flights or sightseeing flights over the local landscape. Low overall costs, easy to fly despite fast cruising speed, exceptional maneuverability make it a stylish alternative to existing turbo- prop, piston and light aircraft.
SURVEY & IMAGING
Applicable for forestry and agricultural flights as well as in the fields of survey and research, the ANNÂ platform offers more efficient possibilities mainly due to lower costs, autonomous operation and the flexibility of being equipped with sensors needing low vibrations, in comparison with legacy turboprops, light airplanes and conventional drones.
FOLLOWING THE AERONAUTICAL BEST PRACTICES PROCESS
1:3-SCALED PROTOTYPE
Based on design analyses, CFD data and initial simulations, a one-third-scaled flying prototype has been developed and manufactured with the same construction technology of the full-scale ANN2. After the first flights in December 2020, the data obtained are used for detailed design and optimization. The model is completely made of carbonfiber and is equipped with electric motors, fixed and tilting fans and a developmental flight-control computer.
TEAM EXPERIENCE
The team leading Manta Aircraft projects development is the result of the aggregation of several highly and long-time experienced specialists in all the technologies involved in the program.
COMPOSITE STRUCTURES DESIGN & MANUFACTURING
35+ year as head of composites and manufacturing at Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Embraer, Mahindra, Gulfstream
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS (FEM)
20+ year experience in motorsport, helicopters and other, for linear/non linear elastic, plastic, buckling, thermo-structural, transient
AERODYNAMICS, FLIGHT MECHANICS & SIMULATION
20+ years experience in aircraft design, external and internal aerodynamics, flight mechanics and simulation
FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS
25+ years experience in flight control laws for civilian and military aircraft of several countries
STYLING AND CAD TEAM
20+ years supplying design work to all major automotive manufacturers
AVIONICS
Experience in programming, validation and verification of avionic equipment for civil and military aircraft
FLIGHT TEST PILOT
20 years experience in test flying of general aviation aircraft, project development, certification and accident analysis
FLIGHT TEST ENGINEERING
Experience in flight test program and certification of light aircraft and military aircraft
COMMUNICATION
Experience in external relations for aircraft manufacturing and service companies, wide international high-level network
FLIGHT MECHANICS & SIMULATION
20+ years experience in aircraft flight mechanics and simulation
COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS (CFD)
Experience in CFD of biz jets, military aircraft, internal and external aerodynamics, several CFD softwares
FLIGHT CONTROL COMPUTERS
Experience in military aircraft flight computers, drones automatic flight programming, hw and sw
OUR PARTNERS & ECOSYSTEM
The ecosystem for the AAM initiated by Manta Aircraft represents one important aspect of the company's strategy: focusing only on some core topics of the air platform developed and, for the others, inviting highly specialized players to join the ecosystem in partnership. We believe that the continuous growth of the ecosystem launched by Manta Aircraft is a solid base on which to build a fast and efficient evolving path to the fielding of AAM air vehicles.
MANTA AIRCRAFT HEADQUARTERS
MANTA AIRCRAFT ITALIA S.r.l.
Via Carlo Cattaneo 8
21018 Sesto Calende (VA), Italy
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ABOUT MANTA AIRCRAFT
As a part of the emerging industry of Advanced and Regional Air Mobility, Manta Aircraft is developing an innovative solution for Aviation - a platform for innovative hybrid-electric aircraft (capable of an eV/STOL capability - Vertical and Short Take Off and Landing) which can give origin to different aircraft models and evolve with the advent of new power generation systems. They are optimised for lift and cruise and can also take off like a helicopter and fly like a plane to serve city and regional applications. The technology is developed for long ranges at high speed at the fraction of the costs of a comparable helicopter, and it surpasses the perfromance of eVTOL air taxis in terms of range, speed, and no-need for ground infrastructure. The vehicles are responding to real needs of specific industries, for the roles of surveillance, rapid intervention (eg. disaster/emergency response), transportation of specialty material and persons, in the civil and defence environments – and are ready to evolve to new markets performing new types of missions. Multiple models, highly adaptable to many missions, optionally piloted, cover a flight range of 200-500+ miles (300-800+ km) at a flight speed of 155-186mph (250 - 300 km/h) and leverage a blend of proven and innovative technologies known by the certification authorities.