Question 1

What is Manta Aircraft?

Accepted Answer

Manta Aircraft is a high-tech engineering and design company engaged in the development of multi-purpose aerial platforms and different models of electric and hybrid-electric eV/STOL vehicles (HeV/STOL) for advanced and regional air mobility. The company‘s innovative and flexible mission focuses on high performance and energy-efficient products tailored to customers‘ needs for a wide range of applications and operations.

Question 2

How is Manta Aircraft involved in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)?

Accepted Answer

Advanced Aerial Mobility (AAM) is the future of transport: a new era of air mobility enabled by electrically-operated vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles linking airports, urban vertiports and rural and private helipads. Operations will not only be cheaper, but also more efficient and sustainable. These new connections will bring cities and people swiftly closer, saving time and money. Many new opportunities will arise in the near future, especially in the area of regional air mobility, whereas technology progress in many services will contribute to increase system productivity with cost-efficient benefits. Recognized market forecasts indicate that AAM business will develop into a multi-billion dollar industry.

Question 3

Where is Manta Aircraft located?

Accepted Answer

Manta Aircraft is an Italian start-up. Its headquarters are located in Sesto Calende, Varese/Italy in beautiful Lombardy, Europe's heart of vertical flight. In addition, Manta Aircraft has established its branch Manta Aircraft North America, based in Delaware, USA.

Question 4

When was Manta Aircraft incorporated?

Accepted Answer

Manta Aircraft has been in existence since July 21, 2020, but it was incorporated as Manta Aircraft S.r.l. in Italy on March 19, 2021, consolidating all activities in the Italian aerospace industrial sector. This was followed by the establishment of Manta Aircraft North America in December 2021.

Question 5

Where does Manta Aircraft operate?

Accepted Answer

Manta Aircraft operates worldwide. Presently, company’s activity is focused on four main regions: Europe as home market, North America as the largest general and business aviation market, and Middle East and South East Asia as early AAM adopters.

Question 6

What is Manta Aircraft developing?

Accepted Answer

An innovative hybrid-electric eV/STOL air vehicle platform in different models for multipurpose use. From a versatile two-seater for utility missions and private mobility to a 4+-seater for commercial use or also as an autonomous high-performance drone.
 • ANNTM2 – piloted two-seater
 • ANNTMPlus – piloted multi-seater
 • ANNTMDrone – long range and high-endurance drone
The first model under development is the two-seat model “ANN2”: a winged aircraft featuring eight
Electric ducted fans. It measures just over 28ft in length and has a 22ft wingspan. It requires very
limited ground infrastructure to operate, and thus offers maximal availability with minimum ground time.

Question 7

What are the performance figures of Manta Aircraft´s air vehicle platforms?

Accepted Answer

• Range: 300 – 800 km
 • Cruising speed: 250 – 300 km/h
 • Passengers: 0-6

Question 8

How is Manta Aircraft different from other eVTOL programs?

Accepted Answer

• the longer range than other comparable eVTOLs
 • the higher cruising speed
 • the less infrastructure requirements (minimal) compared to battery-only developments
 • The flexibility to use (VTOL or STOL or Mixed)
 • the simplicity of operation (assembly, deployment, MRO)
 • the wide model range for the broadest applications in the market

Question 9

What are other particularities of Manta Aircrafts eVTOL platform?

Accepted Answer

The airplane-like airframe allows higher speed, climb performance and exceptional maneuvering capabilities in safer flying conditions. In the course of development Manta Aircraft creates new advanced technologies in propulsion, energy management, avionics and human-machine interface.

Question 10

What are the key benefits for pilots and operators?

Accepted Answer

• Long Endurance & Range
	The hybrid propulsion system allows an outstanding range for regional and intercity flights without recharging stops.
​
 • Flexible Missions
	Configuration flexibility adapts to different missions and operators (sensors, onboard systems, etc.)
​
 • High Cruising Speed
	High cruising speed enables fast commuting on medium and long distances.
​
 • Very low infrastructure needs
	No need for battery recharging infrastructure. Ability to operate from unprepared fields.
​
 • High Manoeuvrability
	Exceptional manoeuvring capabilities: exceptional pitch, roll and yaw rates performance.
​
 • Affordable operating costs
	Total cost of ownership much lower than the one of helicopters (between 5 and 10 times lower). No need for replacement of expensive batteries
​
 • Easy to Fly
	Easier to fly thanks to a flight computer coupled with a fly-by-wire control system with an intuitive human-machine interface.
​
 • Customizable
	Tailored equipment and configuration according to customers’ specs and needs. Customized livery and interiors.
​
 • Easy to Deploy
	Modular design allows quick disassembly and assembly for transportation and repair: Wing, Canard, Fuselage, Power Pack Unit
​
 • Eco-friendly
	Operating on SAF (sustainable Aviation Fuel). No need for battery replacement and disposal. Pre-arranged for zero-emission hydrogen power plants.

Question 11

Is Manta Aircraft all-electric?

Accepted Answer

No, Manta Aircraft´s solution is a unique hybrid propulsion consisting of a turbo generator and batteries. The turbo generator, a gas turbine, is fed with gas or any eco-fuel while the air vehicle is driven electrically. Hybrid because realistically, at present, the highest energy density is in liquid fuel, so if you want to achieve a reasonable range today this is the optimum solution for the mission Manta has set for their aircraft. In Manta Aircrafts case, it is not purely urban air mobility, but meant for regional and inter-regional missions.

Question 12

Why does Manta Aircraft use a gas turbine to generate power - is that eco-friendly?

Accepted Answer

The hybrid propulsion system allows higher performance in terms of longer endurance and range (recharging batteries enroute) and is fed with gas or any eco-fuel. Current battery technology does not yet allow Manta Aircrafts to perform missions in regional airspace of several hundred kilometers with consideration of vertical takeoff and landing capability. In addition, the infrastructure requirements have to be taken into account, whereby very expensive recharging infrastructure and transport as well as recycling of the heavy batteries have a very negative impact on pure battery solutions. The technology is prepared to work in the future with only batteries or advanced hydrogen power generators.

Question 13

Why does Manta Aircraft use a winged configuration?

Accepted Answer

It uses a winged configuration because you need about one-tenth of the power of an equivalent rotorcraft.

Question 14

Who are the Co-Founders of Manta Aircraft?

Accepted Answer

Lucas Marchesini (CEO & CTO): 
25+ years experience in aircraft design, flight mechanics and simulation in Pilatus, Calidus and others; motorsport in F1, Indy and Moto GP; management in high tech sectors for several SMEs. Co-founder in several startups.

Juanjo Espinosa (CDO): 
30+ years supplying engineering & design services to automotive OEMs like Lamborghini, Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Aston Martin, Porsche, Ford, AMG-Mercedes, Citroën, and motorsport collaborations for FIA GT1, GT3, and ACO Le Mans.

Michael Mesaric (CMO): 
20 years experience in marketing, marketing communications, branding, brand consultancy & advertising for world leading agencies like FCB Global, BlueBarracuda & Horizon Group UAE, GGK Mullenlowe, McCann and VMLY&R.

Betty Puccio (CFO/CAO): 
30 years of experience in Insurance and Asset Management. Managed, as Head of Product Development of a major International Asset Manager, several projects and products launch coordinating the different company function as finance, legal and compliance, marketing, operation.

Question 15

Who is in the board of directors of Manta Aircraft?

Accepted Answer

The Board of Directors, in addition to Lucas Marchesini, Juanjo Espinosa and Betty Puccio also includes the following individuals:
 • Ashley Appleton (Head of Structures and Manufacturing): 35+ year as head of composites and manufacturing at Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Embraer, Mahindra, Gulfstream.
 • Andrea Artoni (External Relations): A specialist in corporate communication and networking with aerospace industrial companies and air navigation services, then senior editor and international correspondent for the main Italian aerospace magazine. Formerly, ITAF officer and ATCO with sound aeronautical engineering background.

Question 16

Who are advisors of Manta Aircraft?

Accepted Answer

Advisors to the board are Giuseppe Orsi, top world aerospace manager, CEO of AgustaWestland (2004), CEO and Chairman of Finmeccanica (now Leonardo) (2011) as well as Fabio Nannoni, former senior vice president of engineering at Leonardo. Multi-award-winning expert in vertical lift and covert-planes and father of the most advanced Agusta helicopters. Complemented by Stephen C. Moss, ex-CEO AugustaWestland North America, as well as Alberto Recchi, who brings extensive financial know-how.

Question 17

How many employees has Manta Aircraft?

Accepted Answer

The team working on the program consists of about 20 highly experienced specialists covering all essential competences and skills from all areas of the program:
 • Composite Structures Design & Manufacturing
 • Structural analysis (FEM)
 • Aerodynamics, Flight Mechanics & Simulation
 • Flight Control Systems
 • Flight Test Engineering
 • Avionics
 • Computational Fluid Dynamics
 • Flight Control Computers
 • Styling and CAD
 • Flight Testing

Question 18

What has Manta Aircraft achieved so far?

Accepted Answer

• It has frozen the design of the ANN2, the first version of the ANN platform, according to the milestone plan.
 • It has produced a 1:3 scale prototype and has already conducted initial hover tests in December 2020.
 • It has performed advanced wind tunnel tests, with rotary balance and forced oscillations for a very large angle of attack range, in June.
 • It has matched the wind tunnel data with the CFD data gathered in 1 year of non-stop work of the cluster, resulting is a highly populated aerodynamic database for the engineering flight simulator (today called digital twin).
 • In the last six months, Manta Aircraft has also started the preparatory work for the upcoming certification path, interacting with the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, that it expect to start in 2023.

Question 19

What are the next steps for Manta Aircraft?

Accepted Answer

• In the coming months, further flights are planned with the first 1:3 scale model of ANN2
 • The second one, with enhanced capabilities, is already in the assembly phase.
 • It plans to assemble the first full-scale prototype mid 2023.
 • In parallel, the team is also working on the preliminary design of the larger ANN4TMPlus model with significantly more seats and space for luggage, or cargo.