The SM-100 is an all-new, next-generation utility transport aircraft designed by Christopher Beskar, Stavatti Aerospace, to deliver tactical payloads, airfreight, and passengers with significantly greater efficiency than existing platforms in its class. A US design patent, USD 1.003.804 S was awarded in November 2023.

The SM-100 was designed and evaluated using standard industry software including SolidWorks, CATIA and even Raymer's RDSwinPro and Hanley Innovations Stallion 3D. It will be prototyped and initially manufactured at the Stavatti hangar at 9400 Porter Road, Niagara Falls, NY using modern manufacturing methods and equipment. With projected global sales exceeding 2,000 aircraft and a production run of more than 20 years at an annual rate of up to 100 units, the program is expected to support over 1,800 direct jobs per production year.

Engineered as a modern successor to the C-123, DC-3, and a U.S.-designed alternative to the C-27J, the SM-100 offers a maximum gross weight of 90,000 lbs, a payload capacity of 35,000 lbs, and seating for up to 72 passengers at a 31-inch pitch. Cruising at 407 KTAS, the aircraft consumes an average of only 5.6 lbs of fuel per nautical mile, resulting in a transportation cost of $0.68 per ton-nm, substantially lower than the C-130J and C-27J. As a green aircraft, it achieves a takeoff smoke number of approximately 26 and a flyover noise level near 77 EPdb.

Designed from inception as a dedicated cargo aircraft, the SM-100 accommodates four 463L pallets, five LD-3 containers, two vehicles the size of Humvees, two 10.5-ft CONEX containers, or a single 20-ft sea-land container, capabilities unmatched by ATR-42s, Q-Series turboprops, or legacy DC-3s. A rear loading ramp and spacious cargo bay enable rapid loading without ground support equipment, even in remote or unimproved environments.

A defining feature of the SM-100 is its modular roll-on/roll-off cargo bay and dynamic multiple arm AI driven robotic handling system, allowing rapid conversion between freighter, passenger, and specialized mission configurations such as mobile hospitals, research platforms, or educational centers. This flexibility enables operators, including cargo carriers, regional airlines, humanitarian organizations, charter services, and bush operators, to perform multiple mission types within a single day.

The aircraft integrates an advanced Boundary Layer Control (BLC) system, enabling true STOL performance. It can operate from runways under 3,000 feet, including unprepared strips, while still achieving ranges approaching 3,900 nm at 365 knots. Its design aligns with global intermodal logistics standards, ensuring seamless integration with containerized freight systems.

Multiple variants include the SM-100AT Air Tanker, SM-100D autonomous drone, and several advanced-propulsion models: Electric (SM-100E), Hybrid Electric (SM-100HE), Hydrogen (SM-100H), and Hydrogen Fuel Cell (SM-100HF).

The SM-100E Zero-Emission electric variant features two NeoThrust SRM-6000 switched-reluctance motors (6,000 SHP each) driving 13.5-ft scimitar propellers at 1,020 RPM, powered by a 6,192-kWh Li-SiGr battery system. Its structure consists of a cantilever three-spar semi-monocoque aluminum foam-metal sandwich wing and empennage with a modular four-element fuselage.

The SM-100 delivers unmatched versatility, efficiency, and payload capability, as a global workhorse for commercial, military, humanitarian, and remote-region operations.