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Next-Generation General Aviation

Mann Aviation Group

REDEFINING
WHAT'S POSSIBLE
IN AVIATION

Certified, affordable, high-performance aircraft powered by modern automotive-derived engines dramatically reducing ownership costs while raising the bar for safety and performance.

Explore Alto Platform Student Opportunities
22,000+
Flight Hours
63
Aircraft Types
4+
University Partners
Scroll
Our Mission

AVIATION THAT
WORKS FOR EVERYONE

Mann Aviation Group (MAG) is developing a new generation of certified, affordable, high-performance aircraft powered by modern automotive-derived engines.

Our goal is to dramatically reduce the cost of aircraft ownership while improving safety, reliability, and performance through modern engineering, manufacturing, and systems integration. MAG collaborates with leading universities on propulsion testing, systems development, and aircraft design.

Focus Areas
Propulsion · Composites
Avionics · Systems Integration
Certification Standard
FAA Part 23
General Aviation
Alto Aircraft
Current Platform
ALTO / ALTUS
Four-Seat Aircraft Platform
Aircraft Development Program

THE ALTO
PLATFORM

A next-generation aircraft concept designed to combine high cruise efficiency, exceptional safety, and simplified manufacturing — rethinking the economics of general aviation from the ground up.

Blended Wing Body

Fuselage architecture that integrates the wing and body for superior aerodynamic efficiency and reduced drag — a hallmark of advanced aerospace design.

Canard Configuration

Forward-mounted horizontal stabilizer providing inherent stall resistance, improving safety margins for pilots of all experience levels.

Automotive-Derived Propulsion

Modern automotive engines adapted for aviation deliver proven reliability, superior power-to-weight ratio, and dramatically lower operating costs.

Advanced Cooling Systems

Purpose-built thermal management integrating cooling ducts and radiator packaging to handle automotive engine heat loads in an airframe environment.

Composite Airframe

Advanced composite structures designed for efficient production, delivering high strength-to-weight performance while reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

SAGE System

Smart Avionics & Guidance Engine

Integrated intelligent systems monitoring with fault detection, electronic checklists, and health monitoring — the cognitive layer of the Alto platform.

Development Programs

THREE PILLARS OF
INNOVATION

Real engineering problems. Real aircraft development. MAG is advancing the Alto platform across three integrated programs.

Program 01

Aircraft CAD Development

Translating design concepts into precision 3D geometry from fuselage curves to cockpit ergonomics.

1
BWB fuselage geometry
2
Canard & control surface layout
3
Wing planform development
4
Landing gear & cooling integration
5
Cockpit layout & ergonomics
SolidWorks Fusion 360 CATIA NX
Program 02

Propulsion Development & Testing

Validating automotive-derived engines for aviation duty cycles through rigorous test stand development and instrumented analysis.

1
Test stand design & mechanical layout
2
Instrumentation planning
3
Data acquisition systems
4
Thermal & cooling analysis
5
Torsional vibration measurement
Propulsion Thermodynamics DAQ
Program 03

Aircraft Systems — SAGE

Smart Avionics & Guidance Engine

Building the intelligent layer of the Alto platform integrated monitoring, alerts, and human-machine interfaces.

1
Integrated system monitoring
2
Intelligent alerts & fault detection
3
Electronic checklists & guidance
4
Engine & systems health monitoring
Systems Eng. Avionics Software
Student Engineering Collaboration

WORK ON
REAL PROBLEMS

MAG is seeking motivated engineering students interested in contributing to early development work. These are real engineering problems, not simulations, associated with the development of a new aircraft platform.

Prior aircraft knowledge is helpful but not required. What matters most is curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to engage with genuinely hard problems.

Apply to Collaborate

Skills That Help

SolidWorks / Fusion 360 / CATIA / NX
Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Propulsion Systems & Aerodynamics
Structural Design
Systems Engineering / Avionics / Software
University Collaborations

MAG actively collaborates with universities on propulsion, composites, manufacturing, and future aviation systems integration.

Leadership

MEET THE FOUNDER

Jeff Mann
JEFF MANN
Founder — Mann Aviation Group

Jeff Mann is an airline captain with over 22,000 flight hours across 63 aircraft types including the Boeing 777 on international operations with American Airlines.

His decades of operational experience in systems management, safety culture, and high-reliability decision making inform every design decision at MAG bridging the gap between aviation engineering and real-world flight operations.

MAG's long-term vision is to help modernize general aviation by making high-performance personal aviation more accessible to flight schools, returning pilots, and new entrants to aviation.

Current Role
Boeing 777 International Pilot
American Airlines · Since 1998
Education
B.A.S. Flight Technology
Central Washington University
Get In Touch

LET'S BUILD
SOMETHING NEW

Whether you're a student engineer, a university partner, or an industry collaborator we want to hear from you. MAG is actively building the team and partnerships that will bring the Alto platform to life.

Phone
(602) 291-4737
Email
Speedebump@hotmail.com

Send a Message