On 7 November 2023 a design patent was issued for the SM-100 Transport Aircraft by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent number assigned to the design patent is US D1,003,804 S.
The design patent was issued to the applicant and inventor, Christopher R. Beskar with a 15 year term. Representative of the SM-100 transport now under development by Stavatti Aerospace Ltd, Stavatti has been issued a license by Christopher Beskar to develop, prototype, flight test, certify, produce, market, sell and support the SM-100 family of aircraft.
The SM-100 is a next generation twin engine transport featuring a high aspect ratio wing and a novel “W” tail for improved yaw and pitch stability at all angles of attack with reduced interference drag and overall aircraft height.
Featuring a cargo bay that measures 35 ft long, 10 ft high and 11.82 ft wide, the SM-100 will benefit from a novel dynamic robotic cargo handling system. Capable of transporting payloads of up to 35,000 lbs, the SM-100 is designed to carry a single 20 ft long intermodal cargo container. Additional payloads may include up to four 463L pallets, two Humvees or up to 72 passengers.
With a 310 knot cruise speed and a range of 3,000 nm while transporting a 12.5 ton load, the SM-100 will operate from short unprepared runways. A rugged airlifter, the SM-100 will be produced as a transport, regional airliner, special mission aircraft and as the SM-100AT Air Tanker to fight wild fires. As an Air Tanker, the SM-100AT will carry over 4,000 gallons of water, Phos-Chek or Stavatti proprietary Green Foam™ to extinguish wild fires. Stavatti has received letters of intent for the delivery of over 100 SM-100ATs to qualified end-user operators.
The SM-100 will be powered by two 6,000 shp class powerplants driving 8 blade, 13.5 ft diameter scimitar prop fans. Powerplants may include two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150 derivative turboprops. Stavatti is also considering the production of zero emission hydrogen, as well as electric and hybrid electric powered variants of the SM-100.
The SM-100 is being developed by Stavatti as a stakeholder sponsored commercial initiative. The SM-100 will be prototyped at Stavatti facilities in Niagara Falls, NY. Following prototyping, flight testing and FAA certification, the SM-100 will enter production at a Stavatti owned and operated manufacturing plant with the direct support of a supply chain consisting of over 100 first and second tier Industry Team Members (ITMs).
