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Manta Aircraft and Shenyang Aviation Industry Group partner to accelerate hybrid-electric ‘ANN Plus’ aircraft 

Manta Aircraft and Shenyang Aviation Industry Group Press Release | October 28, 2024

Estimated reading time 6 minutes, 1 seconds.

Manta Aircraft and Shenyang Aviation Industries Group are establishing a partnership to continue on the path to develop the Manta ANN hybrid electric HeV/STOL for regional air mobility.

The hybrid propulsion system, coupled with four optimized ducted fans for hovering and four for cruising, offers the longest range in the eVTOL segment, with high cruising speed. 

The program follows Manta Aircraft’s program to develop a scalable technology for a multi-functional long-range HeV/STOL platform, from which several models can be derived, for public utility and service missions, as well as as for fully autonomous high-performance operations. 

The partnership between Manta Aircraft and Shenyang Aviation Industries Group to develop the ANN Plus aircraft will lead to common research and development activity, production technology for two full-scale prototypes, certification with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and industrialization.  

It will cover the Chinese and South Asian markets not only for the marketing activity but also for maintenance, repair and overhaul services. The partners are supported by Baoding Kaiborui Technologies Co ltd. 

This new industrial partnership was presented on October 26, 2024, at a rollout ceremony in Shenyang, which was jointly hosted by the Shenyang Aviation Industry Group and Baoding Kaiborui Technology Co. Ltd. 

A full-scale mock-up of the “ANN Plus” model will be unveiled at this year’s China Airshow in Zhuhai, Nov. 12 to 17, 2024. Details of the joint program will be presented during the show. 

The accent of the Manta Aircraft’s program is on viability and this has led to found the project on a very conventional canard layout, comprehensively tested in the wind tunnel, with non-stop CFD (computational fluid dynamic) simulations, a hybrid configuration that includes a small battery with the performance commercially available today, supported by the development of specific calculation methods for performance prediction, a pilot-in-the-loop simulator and scaled prototypes intensively flown. 

The program also capitalizes on China’s economic focus on the low altitude economy, which is preparing to integrate electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft operations. Through regulatory reforms, airspace management and the creation of pilot project zones, the country is entering a new era of greater liberalization of its general aviation (GA) sector. 

The ANN Plus is a multipurpose, six-seater air vehicle offering comfortable space for one pilot and five passengers — for personal mobility, business travel, special and cargo transport operations. Combining helicopter versatility with airplane efficiency, this aircraft supports both vertical and short takeoff and landing (VTOL and STOL), enabling operations anywhere – from airports to helipads to unprepared remote areas.  

With a range of 300 kilometers for VTOL operation and up to 1,000 kilometers using a short airstrip for STOL operation, it offers unmatched mission flexibility, regardless of 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. 

The Manta proprietary technical calculation tools derive from a combined 60 years of experience in airplane and helicopter design, applied to 20-plus certified aircraft, lending a reliable performance and flight control prediction. 

Graphs for the payload-range capability, with a vertical take-off and with a rolled take off from a 27-meters semi-prepared strip, estimated at different ambient temperatures, up to ISA+30°:

For the globally operating Italian Manta Aircraft, this is the next step in its program to optimally use existing resources and to build an efficient supply chain that helps to keep the necessary investments to a minimum level. 

This partnership complements a setup of strong research and development partners in the likes of Avionord, NAYLAM, YCOM, Khalifa University and others, with whose help Manta Aircraft intends to take off in the near future. 

This press release was prepared and distributed by Manta Aircraft and Shenyang Aviation Industry Group. 

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