The Manta ANN2 hybrid eVTOL will be in development with Avionord
The luxurious Manta ANN2 hybrid eVTOL is set to help transport medical personnel as it has proven to become a suitable aircraft for transporting organs and medical staff due to its hybrid design. Manta Aircraft Italia will be working with the Milan-based private air transport company Avionord to reconfigure the Manta ANN2 hybrid eVTOL.
According to Manta, the Manta ANN2 hybrid eVTOL will hold a 373-mile range with a cruising speed of 186 mph. It’s constructed with a carbon-composite dual-wing frame that consists of a V-tail and four tilting ducted fans.
In order to expand the range, onboard generators create power while in flight. The aircraft is a hybrid design that may also be used as an eSTOL (short-area take-off and landing) plane. It can fly vertically like a helicopter or take off normally like a regular airplane.
“The Manta ANN platform is the only eVTOL offering a range of several hundred miles, which is useful for the missions to transport organs for transplantation from one hospital to another, avoiding being dependent on airports and road transport,” stated Avionord CEO Eugenio Cremascoli. “The ANN eVTOLs will enable us to reduce the transportation time of the organs that have a limited life when not connected to the dedicated machines. It will also have a reduced cost.”
The agreement between Avionord and Manta will result in 15 Manta ANN2 Hybrid eVTOL units produced for medical services. The Milan-based company will be investing in Manta and is expecting for deliveries to start in 2026.
In other news, Manta is developing a variety of hybrid-electric VTOL and STOL aircrafts for regional air mobility. In 2023, the company aims to begin certification work on its two-seat ANN2 aircraft.
