Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Airframe! Plana eVTOL Secures Major Order from Vonaer

The advanced air mobility (AAM) company Vonaer from South Korea will purchase 20 hybrid electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which will accelerate Plana's goals in certification, financing, and market access. Plana US Inc. has signed a letter of intent with the South Korean air traffic service provider Vonaer, headquartered in Seoul, to deliver 20 hybrid electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to them. This milestone event is part of Plana's major strategic initiative—currently, the company is preparing to relocate its headquarters to the United States and is actively advancing its eVTOL aircraft platform's certification, financing, and market access work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

According to the agreement, Plana will deliver 5 certified aircraft to Vonaer by 2033, and an additional 15 aircraft by 2040, with the total order valued at $664 million. As of the signing of this contract, Plana has received pre-orders for a total of 127 aircraft. Plana's hybrid electric eVTOL will use carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites for the airframe and propeller system, and will be equipped with a hybrid power management system capable of operating a certified turbine generator and a battery system simultaneously. The aircraft can accommodate up to 6 passengers, is piloted by one pilot, and employs Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and Simplified Vehicle Operations (SVO) technology.

According to Plana, the aircraft has a range of over 300 miles (approximately 483 kilometers) on a single refueling, with a top speed exceeding 350 kilometers per hour. Its all-electric propulsion system reduces noise to 1/100th of that of a helicopter, greatly enhancing social acceptance. Additionally, as a hybrid electric aircraft, it has the advantage of utilizing existing infrastructure such as helicopter landing pads.

Plana plans to obtain FAA certification by the end of 2031 and is scheduled to commence its first commercial operations in 2032.

Braden J. Kim, the founder and CEO of Plana, said: "Our company originated in South Korea and has now completed registration in Delaware, USA. We plan to complete the relocation of our headquarters within this year to advance FAA certification, financing, and market access. Vonaer is a leading air traffic service platform provider in Asia, and our aircraft will open up broader opportunities in the currently helicopter-dominated market segment."

In May 2023, Plana signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Vonaer. Since then, the two companies have jointly analyzed data reflecting actual market needs and have collaborated on how to reasonably construct eVTOL mobility services.

Vonaer is reportedly the first advanced air mobility (AAM) platform company in South Korea, with its business scope expanded from helicopter services to the private jet and eVTOL sectors. The company is building a luxury air transportation service platform with a focus on high-end services, aiming to set industry standards in the Asian air transportation sector and preparing to expand into the European and American markets. (Source: CompositesWorld)