Aura Aero Integral E makes maiden all-electric flight
December 3, 2024
Aura Aero has performed the first fight of its prototype Integral E aircraft, taking advantage of the “light winds and favourable weather conditions” at France’s Toulouse-Fracazal airport, and marking the first time an all-electric aerobatically-capable trainer aircraft has flown.
Co-founder and president of Aura Aero Jérémy Caussade described it as “a very emotional day,” adding: “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 address, in an electric version, many of the needs expressed by training schools and flying clubs”.
First unveiled at the 2023 Paris Airshow, the third variant in Aura Aero’s family of twin-seat, aerobatically-capable Integral family builds on the conventionally-powered S (tricycle-undercarriage) and R (tailwheel) options. Speaking in June 2023, general manager and chief project officer Wilfred Dufould explained that the electric E would “adopt the whole spirit of the S version” and would also be available in both landing gear configurations.
Although Dufould had suggested that Aura Aero was intending to fly the E variant before the end of the year (subject to validation of various bench tests), the team celebrated the first ‘power-on’ of the Integral E in February 2024 – described by Caussade as “a very intense moment in the history of Aura Aero, a history which we are writing each day”. EASA delivered the requisite ‘Permit to Fly’ in April 2024 – paving the way for the DGAC (French Civil Aviation Authority the approve the upcoming flight test campaign, something Aura Aero indicated at the time would take place “in the coming weeks”.
When certified (joining the “very exclusive club” of electric aircraft managed in the EASA CS-23 category) and in service, Integral E will have a range of around one hour and a supercharging capacity of under 30 minutes. Aura Aero estimates its cost per flight hour will be halved compared to that of a thermal-engined aircraft in its category.
With an orderbook for several hundred aircraft “eagerly awaited by flying clubs and training schools across the world,” Integral E will also be available as a glider tug version, already welcomed by the French Gliding Federation (FFVP) and Norwegian airsports federation Norges Luftsportsforbund. The Integral E is expected to enter service in 2026, following the first deliveries of Integral R at the beginning of 2025.
