This is a crucial step, but not the last. At the end of a battery of ground tests (rolling, vibration, engine tests, etc.) that began in January 2024, the first prototype of the two-seater aircraft in its fully electric version, designed by Aura Aero, made its first A flight. twelve minutes, on Tuesday, November 3, from the runway of the former Toulouse-Francazal military base in Cugnaux, near Toulouse. Back on land, around 9 am, the two pilots, Hervé Poulin and Guillaume Garnier, were warmly applauded by the employees, the only spectators at the event.
“This is a moment of pride and success for the entire Aura Aéro team”savor Jérémy Caussade, co-founder and president of the Toulouse aircraft manufacturer Aura Aero. IIntegral E – that’s what it’s called – made of wood (70%) and carbon (30%), and mounted under the company’s large HM7 hangar, at the edge of the runways of the old airport platform, it is intended for the training of civilian pilots and military and the glider towing sector.
This first flight opens the sky to a test campaign that will last several weeks. But there is still a way to go to see this empty 650-kilogram plane in the air, equipped with an electric motor (Engineus) from equipment manufacturer Safran and several high-voltage lithium batteries. Because the entry into service of this two-seater will be possible from 2026 once the certification is issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
“One step forward”
Until then, the plane will undergo major upgrades.. “The aircraft will evolve and take us to the final version which will probably be very different. It will have a flight range of almost an hour and will be equipped with batteries capable of recharging quickly. Your acquisition and use costs will be extremely controlled.”explained Jérémy Caussade, in Worldduring a meeting this summer in his office.
If this event is proof to this former Airbus engineer that “accelerate the decarbonization of air transport” is underway, it also reinforces the positioning in light aviation of the small aircraft manufacturer with 250 employees, born in 2018. “On a global scale, the American Bye Aerospace is the only aircraft manufacturer capable of seriously working on 100% electric aircraft. In Europe there are only two of us with Diamond Aircrafthe stated. But in this competition we have an advantage because Integral E It has several first European approvals to its credit. » In April 2024, the aircraft obtained, for example, flight conditions approval for a flight permit issued by EASA.
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