Hybrid eVTOL orders builds Plana’s FAA certification, U.S. relocation momentum

Hybrid eVTOL aircraft concept for regional air travel. Source | Plana US Inc.

Plana US Inc. has signed a letter of intent to deliver 20 hybrid electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to Vonaer (Seoul), a South Korean-based air mobility service provider. This milestone is part of a larger strategic move as Plana prepares to relocate headquarters to the U.S., and actively purses Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification, capital raising and market entry for its eVTOL aircraft platform.

Under the agreement, Plana will supply Vonaer with five certified aircraft by 2033 and an additional 15 by 2040, a value of $664 million. Throughout this contract, Plana has secured pre-orders for a total of 127 aircraft.

Plana’s hybrid eVTOL will use carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites for the aircraft airframe and prop system. It is equipped with a 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 more than 300 miles on a single refueling, with a maximum speed of over 350 kilometers per hour. Its all-electric propulsion system reduces noise to 1/100^th the level of a helicopter, Plana reports, maximizing social acceptance. As a hybrid aircraft, it also has the advantage of being able to use existing infrastructure like helicopter pads.

FAA certification is targeted for end of 2031, with first commercial launch schedued for 2032.

“Our company, which was launched in South Korea, has now completed the establishment of a Delaware corporation in the U.S. and plans to finalize its headquarters relocation within the year to pursue FAA certification, capital raising and market entry,” says Braden J. Kim, founder and CEO of Plana. “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.”

Plana previously signed an MOU with Vonaer in May 2023. Since then, the companies have jointly analyzed the data realistically required by the market and collaborated on how to properly shape eVTOL travel.

Vonaer is reported to be Korea’s first advanced air mobility (AAM) platform, expanding from helicopter-based services to private jets and eVTOLs. The company is building a hospitality-driven luxury service platform to set the standard for air mobility in Asia and is preparing for expansion into Europe and the U.S.