A Brief History

Stavatti Aerospace had its beginnings in July 1994 when Christopher R. Beskar founded Stavatti Corporation. A Minnesota C Corporation, Stavatti Corporation was promptly registered with the State Department-Office of Defense Trade Controls as a Manufacturer, Importer and Exporter of U.S. Munitions List items. As a defense systems manufacturer Stavatti Corporation was assigned a CAGE code of 1DRG1, a Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement Number and received licensing from the Minnesota DoT as an aircraft manufacturer and dealer.

Stavatti Corporation was established with a singular goal in-mind: design and produce original, next generation military and general aviation aircraft using a lean business model adapted from the program approach pioneered by Lockheed Skunk Works® back in the 1940s through the 1960s when successful revolutionary programs including the P-80, U-2 and A-12 were completed. The Stavatti approach was a hybridization of the Skunk Works method wherein a small corporate entity with minimum overhead would not only efficiently prototype and develop new military and general aviation aircraft, but mass produce them in volumes associated with the military F-5 and F-16 and the civil Cessna 172.

Stavatti Corporation was founded on the premise that a new kind of small aircraft company could be formed: one that develops and produces significant kinds of aircraft in a manner which results in high quality, high performance products which are not only easily integrated into existing force structures, but are cost effective and inherently efficient.

To implement this vision, Stavatti Corporation elected to perform aircraft development/RDT&E programs as private sector financed, commercial ventures and set forth in 1997 to raise the significant levels of venture capital necessary not only to design sophisticated new aircraft, but prototype, flight test, certify and initiate production of them. In so doing, the practice of Selling What We Make was adopted as the foundation of the Stavatti business model. As an upstart aircraft manufacturer intending to produce the kinds of airplanes usually manufactured domestically by industry giants, the Stavatti business model was unique: Identify a niche market need, develop a series of requirements to satisfy that need, develop a product concept to satisfy those requirements, raise private sector venture capital to design, prototype and qualify the product and then initiate mass production of the product, supported by orders gained through the major marketing of the product. Sales were to be conducted primarily as Direct Commercial Sales (DCS), wherein Stavatti Corporation would provide total Contractor Logistical Support (CLS) for all products as developed.

Between 1994 and 2005, Stavatti Corporation initiated the design and development of multiple new aircraft to satisfy a variety of aerospace niche markets. Beginning in 1994, the most prominent program was the development of the SM-36 Stalma Multi-Role Fighter (MRF). The SM-36 is single seat, single engine, variable geometry air superiority aircraft designed to serve as a suitable successor to F-16 and F/A-18 aircraft in US and NATO allied Air Forces, competing directly with the F/A-35 JSF. An extremely capable weapon system conceived for maximum performance and combat capability, the SM-36 design combines supercruise, stealth, extraordinary acceleration, climb and instantaneous turn rates with exceptional maneuverability. Remaining a primary development program through 2006, beginning in January 2007 Stavatti Aerospace shifted priorities to focus upon the SM-27/47 Machete series with the SM-36 program being recapitalized in 2014 to form the basis of a new sixth generation, variable geometry multi-role fighter intended for production in the 2025 time-frame.

With the Stalma serving as Stavatti’s primary military program, in 1995 Stavatti Corporation began work on the design of the SM-26 Sleek series of high performance sportplanes to address the general aviation market. A two-place tandem performance oriented sportplane, the Sleek was a three surface, retractable gear fully aerobatic lightplane intended for FAR 23 certification. Consisting of superturbocharged piston, turboprop and turbofan variants, the Sleek was to cater to aviators in search of an exotic, fully aerobatic lightplane. Engineering of the Sleek evolved from concept in 1995 to series design in 1997. By 1999, Counter-Insurgency variants of a Sleek derivative airframe were undergoing serious evaluation until Stavatti was asked to engineer a specific COIN derivative designated the Machete in 2000.

SM-27 conceptual design commenced with turboprop model engineering in August 2000. By 2001, the SM-27 program entered the Advanced Design phase with Integration and Detail Design of the SM-27 turboprop being completed by 2005. From 2005 through early 2007, the Machete was redesigned to produce a family of aircraft based on a common airframe. This expanded the SM-27 from the original turboprop configuration to two turbofan-powered variants; the most advanced of which is a Forward Swept Wing derivative offering both supersonic cruise and post-stall maneuverability.

By May 2007, the Machete program had produced five advanced design variants: the SM-27S single-seat turboprop COIN/CAS aircraft, SM-27T two-seat tandem turboprop COIN/Advanced Trainer, SM-27J single-seat turbofan COIN/CAS aircraft, SM-27L two-seat tandem turbofan COIN/Advanced Trainer, and the SM-47 Super Machete FSW Strike Fighter. By November 2007, a realization of new Machete mission capabilities lead to a stretching of the aircraft fuselage, an increase in wing area and internal fuel load and overall increase in MTOW.

From 2000 through 2006, the SM-26 Sleek series configuration paralleled the SM-27, with the Sleek becoming a demilitarized, civilian derivative of the military Machete. Resulting in an aircraft of significant physical size, from 1995 to 2006 the Sleek was transformed from a compact, high performance sportplane into a large, P-51 size executive aircraft. In 2007, it was determined that Stavatti would conduct a complete redesign of the SM-26 series to result in a compact, high performance aircraft which is independent of the Machete and more akin to the original Sleek concepts circa 1995.

While the Stalma, Sleek and Machete served as the primary focus of Stavatti’s business plans from 1994 through 2007, over 50 new aircraft concepts were developed during that time-frame to address specific as well as anticipated aerospace needs. Of these concepts, over fifteen were engineered beyond the advanced detail design stage resulting in aircraft designs ready for immediate prototyping.

These other aircraft include the SM-33 Mamba single engine light weight fighter (design commenced in 1999), SM-45 Aviara single engine 5 place lightplane (design commenced in 2004), SM-47 Super Machete Forward Swept Wing Light Weight Fighter (design commenced in 2005), SM-54 series of single engine Unmanned Combat Aircraft/Unmanned Cargo Aircraft (design commenced in 2002), SM-70 series of twin engine turboprop channel wing transport/ASW/regional airliner (design commenced in 2005) and the SM-900 series of twin engine narrowbody commercial airliners (design commenced in 2006).

Between 1995 and 2005, Stavatti Corporation transformed from a company focused upon aircraft manufacturing into a diversified business enterprise with interests not only in aerospace, but also the manufacturing and marketing of high technology durable goods, the production of alloys and composite materials, the design and production of avionics, sensors, mission computers, hybrid circuits, guided missiles, guided and unguided ordnance/munitions, information technology, propulsion systems, artillery and armament systems, land vehicles, marine vessels, the mining of metallic and non-metallic raw materials and the brokering and distribution of precious metals. To accommodate this transformation, on 2 February 2005 Stavatti Heavy Industries, Ltd. was formed.

In 2014 it was decided Stavatti would focus upon our core mission: New Aircraft and Stavatti Aerospace Ltd. was incorporated in April of that year. A “C” corporation headquartered in Minnesota, Stavatti Aerospace Ltd. is a new organization in which all Stavatti aircraft programs are conducted by joint venture enterprises of Stavatti Aerospace and Industry Partners.

By mid-2014 all Stavatti aerospace programs fell under the direction of Stavatti Aerospace. In 2016 Stavatti Industries Ltd. was founded to concentrate upon all non-aerospace vehicle related enterprises ranging from the manufacturing of oil field tooling and equipment to the production of gas turbine powerplants to the introduction of new petrochemical products, consumer electronics and nanotechnology.

On 19 April 2017 Stavatti entered into a Strategic Partnership Agreement with Jugoimport-SDPR and UTVA aircraft of Serbia. Under the terms of this agreement it was agreed that Stavatti and Jugoimport will jointly develop new Stavatti aircraft, powerplants and aircraft systems. Under the agreement Stavatti was also authorized to engineer, develop and produce aircraft, aircraft structures and airframe components at the UTVA production plant in Pancevo, Serbia. Stavatti was also granted authorization to engineer, produce and manufacture landing gear, hydraulic systems, electromechanical systems, electrical systems, tires, wheels and brakes, cockpit systems, stores and ordnance and aircraft seats and interior cabin components at both the Pancevo facility as well as the Namenska production plant in Trstenik, Serbia. Stavatti was also granted authorization to engineer, develop and produce new engines and powerplants, as well as powerplant systems, at the Orao production plant in Bijeljina, Republic of Srpska. Stavatti was also granted the authorization to market and produce legacy Jugoimport, UTVA and aircraft as well modify, reimagine and upgrade those aircraft for production at the Pancevo aircraft factory.

Under this agreement, since May of 2017 Stavatti has had a 925,000 sq ft aircraft factory with a private runway and control tower at which to produce aircraft. Stavatti also has a current team of over 250 aerospace engineers, machinists and assembly workers to produce aircraft and the ability to staff this facility with over 2,500 experienced aerospace professionals in support of new projects or expanded production. Stavatti also has direct access to an additional 482,000 sq ft of production floor in Trstenik with 600 employees and the ability to produce major airframe systems, including actuators and landing gear.

The execution of the agreement with Jugoimport-SDPR resulted in Stavatti becoming a premier aerospace vehicle manufacturer in Serbia directly responsible for the management, production and marketing of legacy aircraft as well as the design, development, production and marketing of new and next generation aircraft at the Pancevo and other facilities. In so doing, Stavatti inherited a proven product line including the current production Lasta 95 and the tooling and capability to produce both the G-4 Super Galeb. In June of 2017 Stavatti began the re-imagining of these aircraft and per our agreement with Jugoimport commenced marketing these aircraft.

In addition to relationships in Serbia, in June of 2017 Stavatti entered into discussions with Motor Sich of Ukraine involving the integration and use of Motor Sich turbofans and afterburning turbofans in Stavatti aircraft, including the legacy SM-4, SM-5 and SM-22. Avia Training and Simulation of Ukraine was also selected to develop and provide full motion flight simulators for Stavatti military aircraft.

With established engineering and manufacturing capabilities in-place, Stavatti is now ready to complete engineering, prototype, flight test, FAA certify and produce the next generation aircraft designed between the founding of the company in 2014 and today. Focusing initially upon general aviation and military training aircraft, Stavatti will establish an industry foothold and presence that will be expanded to include the development and production of next generation military fighter and attack aircraft as well a commercial aircraft in the years to come.

In 2019 Stavatti Aerospace Ltd was reorganized as a Wyoming C Corporation, launching a site selection process focused on identification and selection of sites at which to establish a major aircraft prototyping and production center.

Today the vision of Stavatti Aerospace Ltd. is to produce a diverse family of military and civil aircraft including the new SM-26 and SM-150 general aviation aircraft, the Machete family of attack aircraft, the Super Machete series of advanced light weight fighters and the reimagined SM-36 Stalma and all new SM-39 Razor sixth generation tactical aircraft.