Aircraft
Manta Turns to China's Shenyang Aviation To Advance VTOL/STOL Aircraft
Hybrid-electric aircraft will operate in VTOL or STOL modes with range of up to around 544 nm
Manta's Ann Plus mockup exhibited in Shenyang, China
Manta's Ann Plus mockup was exhibited in China as the Italian company announced a partnership with Shenyang Aviation. © Manta Aircraft

China’s Shenyang Aviation Industries Group is investing in European hybrid-electric aircraft developer Manta under a partnership to jointly produce the six-seat Ann Plus model. The exact terms of the investment were not specified in the companies’ joint announcement on October 28, but Manta co-founder and COO Michael Mesaric indicated to AIN that the funding is sufficient to achieve type certification.

Shenyang Aviation is a subsidiary of the state-backed Aviation Industries of China group. It has been involved in multiple Chinese military aircraft programs and has also contributed to civil airliner programs like the ARJ21, as well as general aviation models such as a Chinese derivative of the Russian Yak-12 utility aircraft.