VONAER, a Korea-based air mobility service provider, has signed a letter of intent to purchase 20 hybrid eVTOL aircraft from PLANA. Under the agreement, PLANA will supply VONAER with five certified aircraft by 2033 and an additional 15 by 2040. Throughout this contract, PLANA has secured pre-orders for a total of 127 aircraft, amounting to a supply agreement of USD 664 million.
According to a company press statement:
“PLANA’s hybrid eVTOL aircraft is equipped with a series hybrid power management system that simultaneously operates a certified turbogenerator and a battery system. It can carry up to six passengers and is operated by a single pilot, leveraging Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) and Simplified Vehicle Operation (SVO) technology. The aircraft has a service range of over 300 miles on a single refueling, with a maximum speed of over 350 km/h. Its all-electric propulsion system reduces noise to 1/100th the level of a helicopter, maximizing social acceptance. As a hybrid aircraft, it also has the advantage of being able to utilize existing infrastructure like helicopter pads.”
Braden J. Kim, Founder and CEO of PLANA, stated, “Our company, which was launched in South Korea, has now completed the establishment of a Delaware corporation in the United States and plans to finalize its headquarters relocation to the U.S. within this year to pursue FAA certification, capital raising, and market entry.” He added, “VONAER is a highly influential air mobility service platform provider in Asia. Our aircraft will create a much larger market in a sector currently served by helicopters.”
He also noted, “VONAER is a partner we signed an MOU in May 2023. We have jointly analyzed the data realistically required by the market and collaborated on how to properly shape the new experience of air travels using VTOLs”
VONAER is Korea’s first UAM platform, said the press release, expanding from helicopter-based services to private jets and eVTOLs. Managing heliports in Seoul Jamsil and Incheon Airport, VONAER has established the foundation for the urban air transportation market through existing helicopter air taxi and private jet services. VONAER is preparing for expansion into Europe and the United States. Min Shin, CEO of VONAER, stated, “the LOI with PLANA marks a key milestone toward realizing this vision, highlighting how partnerships between manufacturers and operators drive market growth.”
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