Meet the eSTOL Hybrid, a whole new category of electric aircraft – Robb Report

Swiss manufacturer Manta has created a variation of traditional eVTOL planes, designed to climb and descend like helicopters. Its single-seat ANN1 and double-seat Ann2 are in fact eSTOLs – the S stands for short-area – that perform vertical take-offs and landings, but they can also land like conventional airplanes on runways as short as 100 meters.

The advantages of the new design include increased range and payload, as using even a very short track consumes much less power than vertical. ANNs also have small fuel-powered generators that create electricity to keep the batteries charged longer and allow for faster recharging.

Beyond the increased range, they’re probably the funniest of all the new electric planes, because they’re also designed for the joy of driving. The lightweight carbon composite frame and twin-wing, V-tail design generate more speed, while improving climbing performance and handling.

Four ducted electric fans attached to the tilt of the wings to direct the thrust and recent tests on a ten-foot-long scale model show that they will push the new Mantas to a cruising speed of 186 mph with a range of 373 miles.

The single-seater ANN1 in particular was designed for extreme performance and targets “personal mobility”, with the company describing it as a “racing machine”. This is rare in the eVTOL world, where these futuristic craft start with business goals, whether it’s regional transport or air taxi service. Usually, the idea of ​​individual ownership is a distant consideration.

While Manta foresees practical uses for its eVTOLs, including environmental, law enforcement, EMT, and search and rescue operations, its sleek, black ANN2 appears to make an exceptional executive commuter aircraft. He is also considering other models that could serve as shuttles between superyachts and seaside landing points.

Manta eagerly awaits a world where flying aces can take flight in an electric whirlwind through the clouds.