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David Saint-Sernin
Published on
Dec 3 2024 at 4:19 p.m.
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Tuesday December 3, 2024, the electric version of Aura Aero's two-seater aircraft dedicated to training, aerobatics and leisure, carried out its first test flight, since Toulouse-Francazal airport.
“This flight truly constitutes a world first because it opens the way to the decarbonization of light aviation for this new category of aircraft,” Aura Aero immediately welcomed in a press release.
A few minutes of flight
The small plane took off from the Toulouse-Francazal runway this Tuesday morning, at 8:48 a.m. He flew for a few minutes, “taking advantage of a light wind and suitable weather conditions.”
“Upon entry into service, Integral E will have a flight endurance of almost an hour and a super-charging capacity of 30 minutes. Its unrivaled performance will also make it possible to halve the cost per flight hour compared to a thermal aircraft in this category,” explains Aura Aero.
Entry into service in 2026?
The entry into service of the electric version could take place in 2026, after two years of flight tests.
“This is a very emotional day for all the Aura Aero teams. The first flight of Integral E is a huge step forward, not only because the Integral family is now complete, but also because this aircraft is one of the first to respond, in an electric version, to many of the needs expressed by training schools and flying clubs. We are very proud of the progress we have made over the past six years and the commercial success that the Integral family is already experiencing. The decarbonization of aviation is now combined with the present,” explained Jérémy Caussade, president and co-founder of Aura Aero.
Aura Aéro won 95 million euros
Aura Aéro definitely has the wind at its back. In full swing, the Toulouse start-up, pioneer of carbon-free aviation, had just obtained 95 million euros in European subsidies.
They were awarded to encourage the development of Era, a hybrid-electric aircraft expected in 2028.
Era will be the first hybrid-electric aircraft intended for regional transport and will be able to transport 19 people.
To industrialize this production, Aura Aero has already announced the construction of a factory on the Toulouse-Francazal site. But also in Florida.
To date, the company created six years ago by former Airbus engineers employs 270 people.
To successfully complete its deployment, it could increase its workforce fivefold by 2027.
(With Marie-Dominique Lacour)
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