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Amid the attention-grabbing headlines and sweeping projections for advanced air mobility (AAM), a few companies have stood out as outliers, charting a quieter path by concentrating on research and development. One such company is Manta Aircraft, which was suddenly in the limelight during the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai.
Held Nov. 12–17, the Sesto Calende, Italy-based manufacturer joined approximately 159 international exhibitors at the biannual event, which featured over 1,000 companies from 47 countries and regions, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
ANN
Designed for regional air mobility, the ANN 6 can carry one pilot and five passengers and offers both vertical and short takeoff and landing (VTOL and STOL) capabilities, making it versatile for various missions. It features a hybrid propulsion system with a small battery, eight electric ducted fans — pairs of fans embedded in the fuselage near the nose and tail, and pairs of tilting fans on each wing — and an optimized wing design for efficient cruising speeds.
The aircraft has a VTOL range of 186 miles (300 km) and a STOL range of over 621 miles (1,000 km). With endurance exceeding an hour using VTOL operations — and more than four hours in STOL operations — the company aims to offer versatile solutions for commercial applications, including business travel, medical transport and cargo delivery.
The hybrid powertrain allows the ANN 6 to recharge its batteries during flight, reducing downtime and enabling extended missions in areas with limited infrastructure. With a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 5,555 lb (2.52 metric tons) for VTOL operation and 6,658 lb (3 t) for STOL, the aircraft can cruise at 149 mph (240 km/h) and reach dash speeds of over 205 mph (330 km/h).
The ANN 6 becomes the third hybrid-electric vertical and/or short takeoff and landing addition to the company’s ANN air vehicle platform. This includes the two-seater ANN 2 — designed for regional air mobility and special services, like delivery of organs, medicines and valuables — and the ANN Drone, a heavy-duty autonomous vehicle for long-range, high-speed missions, including surveillance, mapping, geological surveys and agricultural applications.
The journey to create the ANN 6 began a few years ago, inspired by the developments in electric aviation. Initially, the vision centered on the Formula Air Grand Prix, a racing series designed to bring the capabilities of AAM closer to the public and serve as a platform for technological innovation. However, the team behind Manta Aircraft — led by Lucas Marchesini, Cristianz Mendez Carmona, Juanjo Espinosa and Michael Mesaric — recognized the limitations of purely electric aviation, particularly battery performance. They believed that relying solely on batteries would make it difficult to create sustainable business models.
From the outset, the team believed the future of AAM lay not in the electric air taxis that had gained significant hype, but in efficient hybrid-electric aircraft designed for regional transport. Manta’s aircraft — with vertical and/or short takeoff capabilities and powered by effective ducted fans — would not be limited by traditional runways and would offer clear cost advantages over helicopters, thanks to the recognized benefits and simplification enabled by distributed propulsion, said Manta’s Chief Operating Officer, Michael Mesaric.
Thus, Manta Aircraft was born in 2020, with the vision of a hybrid-electric V/STOL design.
Yet, the story of Manta is far from complete.
The platform’s name “ANN” carries profound and personal significance. It is a tribute to Annalisa, the late wife of CEO and co-founder Marchesini, whose unwavering belief in the project and love for aviation left an indelible mark on its inception. A passionate glider pilot, Annalisa tragically passed away in a car accident; in 2019, Marchesini decided to leave his position at the defense technology firm Calidus and dedicate himself to advancing regional air mobility.
“Her optimism, resilience, and love of aviation continue to represent the core values of our team and our efforts,” Marchesini shared, adding that the platform’s name not only honors her memory but also serves as a constant reminder of the driving force behind the project’s creation.
Today, the team’s efforts are yielding tangible results. Manta has developed several scale prototype models for flight tests, conducted detailed wind tunnel testing and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and carried out pilot-in-the-loop evaluations using a sophisticated aircraft model in a dedicated simulation environment. “The creation of a digital twin real-time hybrid simulation platform marks another significant step toward achieving their goal,” added Mesaric.
The first model (shown on the next page) was one-third scale, constructed of carbon (prepreg); two were built and flown — one for hover tests and one to develop the flight control laws. Smaller, one-third-scale models were made with 3D printing and laminated with glass fiber – and two were made, and used for hover tests, flight computer tests, flight computer checks, flight dynamics tests, and high-speed flight.
Talented Team
Leading the company is Marchesini — a competitive glider pilot with a European Very Light Aeroplanes (VLA) rating and an accomplished entrepreneur — who demonstrated an early aptitude for aviation by designing an aircraft while still at university. With a Master in Aeronautical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and a Master of Business Administration from Bocconi University in Milan, Marchesini has taken on various senior roles over the years, including a four-year stint at Pilatus.
Joining him at the helm of Manta as cofounders are Chief Development Officer Juanjo Espinosa, who brings over 30 years of expertise in engineering and design for automotive manufacturers and motorsport collaborations, and Chief Operating Officer Michael Mesaric, who has nearly two decades of experience spanning marketing, communications, advertising and operations across national and international agency networks.
Chief Financial Officer Sergio Biganzoli brings nearly eight years of experience as CFO at AgustaWestland (now Leonardo).
His expertise in financial management and consultancy within the aerospace industry has been fundamental to Manta’s financial strategies, Mesaric said.
The company also benefits from the guidance of two key advisors, both former executives at Leonardo: Giuseppe Orsi and Fabio Nannoni.
Orsi, who began his career in 1973 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, held leadership roles in the Italian aerospace sector, including CEO of AgustaWestland and Finmeccanica (now Leonardo). During his tenure, he oversaw major aerospace programs and joint ventures, including the tie-up with Bell Helicopters for the BA609 (now AW609) tiltrotor program.
Nannoni, who holds a Master’s in Aeronautical Engineering from Politecnico di Torino, brings over 40 years of experience in rotary-wing aircraft design. His career led him to the role of Senior Vice President for Engineering at AgustaWestland (now Leonardo Helicopter Division), where he played a key role in major projects, including the AW139, AW189, AW169 and AW609. Before retiring in 2021, he delivered the Vertical Flight Society’s 41st Alexander A. Nikolsky Honorary Lecture and was selected as an Honorary Fellow by the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Meanwhile, Eugenio Cremascoli, President of the Board of Directors and CEO of Avionord, is an investor in Manta. With extensive experience in the health and medical sectors, he has played a key role in growing Avionord, a leading private flight company specializing in organ transport with a fleet of seven business jets. Cremascoli has also spearheaded several major acquisitions in the medical field.
Steve Moss, who served as the CEO of AgustaWestland North America, 1999–2009, is the company’s advisor for North American operations.
China and Beyond
Manta’s powerhouse team is gaining widespread recognition, having already received multiple accolades in aviation and innovation.
In 2023, Manta ranked among the top eight cross-industry innovations at the 7th China (Shenzhen) Innovation & Entrepreneurship International Competition, claiming the highest position in the “Aviation & Mobility” category.
The company went on to win the Excellence Award at the China (Hefei) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, followed by the Engineering Innovation of the Year award at the Aviator Middle East Awards, and the Gold Award in the Product Innovation category at the ECI Awards in Wuxi, China. In the 2023–24 Designverse Awards, Manta claimed the Grand Jury Prize in the Product Category “Transportation/Aviation,” further cementing its industry impact.
Building on this momentum, Manta added to its list of accolades in 2024, winning the Technology Innovation of the Year award at the Aviation Business Middle East Awards and taking first prize at the Chengdu International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in Belgium. Manta is not only winning awards in China but is also actively exploring opportunities, including a partnership with Shenyang Aviation Industries Group. Along with proactive regulatory support for AAM, China serves as a leading source of critical components, including advanced batteries.
Manta’s recent venture into China, at the Zhuhai Airshow, earned high praise and further reinforced the ANN 6’s role in advancing regional air mobility.
“Following the positive reception, we have also begun making light modifications to accommodate additional mission requests, demonstrating the flexibility of the ANN 6 to adapt to diverse use cases,” Mesaric said. “These include long-range passenger transport, oil platform operations, and emergency medical or disaster response services.”
Herein lies Manta’s not-so-secret weapon: the willingness to cater to niche markets with full customization tailored to customer needs. Rather than focus on mass production, the team aims to develop highly specialized solutions that address unique market requirements, prioritizing flexible, small-scale innovations.
In the life-saving sector, Manta already has a key partner and stakeholder — Milan-based Avionord. In 2022, the two companies signed an agreement for the delivery of 15 aircraft configured for medical services, such as organ transportation and the transport and intervention of medical staff. Avionord is interested in both the ANN 2 and the ANN 6.
The company is also supported by a diverse network, including Saudi Arabia’s NAYLAM luxury transportation service and Khalifa University, Italy’s YCOM mobility engineering company and SkyCab air transport service, and US-based simulation and engineering company Altair, with additional partners to be announced soon.
As the eVTOL landscape evolves, Mesaric points to a growing industry shift towards hybrid solutions — a direction that the company has championed for years.
“We also foresee a growing preference for ducted fans over open propellers, given their advantages, especially in static conditions (flight speed = 0),” he said, adding that the ANN 6’s all-moving canard configuration provides various benefits, including improved cruise efficiency, enhanced VTOL performance, better cabin access and optimized weight and balance.
Looking ahead in 2025, Manta plans to refine the hybrid propulsion system and develop test benches for avionics and system integration. The company aims to have full-scale prototypes ready within 18 months and is targeting certification of the ANN 6 as a civil passenger aircraft within 3.5 years though CAAC.
