en.Wedoany.com Reported - A New Zealand startup has launched a full-composite aircraft development program, aiming to compete with the Cessna SkyCourier utility turboprop, with its technological foundation rooted in the country's multi-billion-dollar yacht manufacturing industry.

Aviation Composites New Zealand (ACNZ), headquartered in Auckland, has initiated fundraising efforts, targeting the first flight of the AC-2 "AveniQ" prototype within 12 to 14 months after project launch, and certification of this autonomous regional cargo aircraft within three years. ACNZ was founded in 2017 by engineer Lapo Ancillotti, who moved from Italy to New Zealand in 1993 to work in racing yacht manufacturing.

New Zealand, which won the America's Cup for the third consecutive time in 2024, has become a leader in yacht manufacturing, with the industry generating annual revenue of over NZ$3 billion (US$2 billion) in 2023. "New Zealand is truly leading in composite innovation," said Ancillotti. "We build a racing yacht in 12 weeks, while it takes 10 months elsewhere. I've always been passionate about aircraft, and as early as 2000, I saw the opportunity to apply what we learned from yachts to aviation."

He stated that the New Zealand team developed and certified a composite agricultural spraying system for the Robinson R66 helicopter, and designed and produced a carbon fiber kit aircraft, the Furio. "Then, we set out to develop the AC-2 because the fleet in the cargo aircraft market is very old."

The AC-2 is designed to carry a 6,000-pound payload over 400 nautical miles at a cruise speed of 200 knots, powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 or GE Aerospace Catalyst turboprop engine. "We achieve with one engine what the SkyCourier does with two, mainly thanks to aerodynamics and composites," said Ancillotti. With a wingspan of 22 meters (72 feet), the AC-2 is designed from the outset to be "future-proof," capable of adapting to electric propulsion or autonomous operations as the market evolves.

ACNZ says the aircraft is suitable not only for regional cargo but also for passenger transport, medical evacuation, firefighting, humanitarian, and military missions. "We started design two years ago and conducted very intensive CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) studies," said Ancillotti. "We developed the composites. This aircraft will be made from fewer than 200 parts. We are very good at integration, and composites allow for excellent integration."

An investor interested in the regional cargo market funded the AC-2 design, which is now ready for the prototype stage. "We can build the prototype in 12 months and achieve type certification in three years," said Ancillotti. ACNZ plans to certify the aircraft under the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority's Part 23 standards.

ACNZ is seeking to raise US$10 million to build the prototype, with a total of US$33 million needed to complete AC-2 certification. Detailed design is complete, and the next step, pending funding, is to release construction drawings. "In 12 months—conservatively 14 months—we will be able to prove the aircraft's performance," he said. The company plans to use a "different approach" to manufacture the composite fuselage, Ancillotti added: "We may be one of the first companies in the world to study fiber orientation and weight distribution. It is very simple to manufacture."

Given the potential for damage in regional cargo operating environments, "the aircraft is designed to be particularly resistant to localized impacts," he said. "We use a method that allows for open-air repairs without any specialized tools. You don't need an autoclave. You can repair the aircraft overnight." This composite repair philosophy was influenced by the team's experience in the yacht industry. "We come from an environment where we need to repair a boat overnight so it can race the next morning," said Ancillotti. For example, the cargo door is double-reinforced with solid carbon fiber to prevent damage.

Ancillotti said the AC-2 is designed with the e-commerce market in mind, featuring a wider cargo hold and greater package volume than the SkyCourier. The aircraft can also accommodate three LD-3 containers. The project is designed to be transferable, with certification and initial production in New Zealand, but potentially moving to the US eventually. ACNZ forecasts demand for 500 to 800 regional cargo aircraft in the US alone over the next 10 years. Ancillotti noted that New Zealand's aerospace industry, though small, is growing, boosted by the success of companies like Rocket Lab, which has a market capitalization of over US$40 billion since going public in 2021.