French aerobatic trainer earns European approval
EASA CS-23 certification granted to Aura Aero Integral R
French aircraft maker Aura Aero announced European certification of its two-seat Integral R, with ongoing work toward FAA approval.
The two-seat taildragger concluded a four-year campaign including 250 flight test hours leading up to European Union Aviation Safety Agency certification on December 18.
Co-founder and President Jérémy Caussade said the company is "very proud" to achieve the type certificate. "This is the materialization of 5 years of relentless work and most of all, the recognition of our credibility as a full aircraft manufacturer with [design organization approval and production organization approval] approvals and certification."
The company has two more Integral models in testing toward EASA and FAA certification, with the next in line to be the Integral S, designed to serve as a tricycle-gear instrument trainer. The company announced the first flight of the electric Integral E on December 3, with two years of pre-certification flight testing planned. The electric variant is expected to have one hour of endurance, with a 30-minute recharge time.
Aura Aero announced in July it will open its first U.S. facility by the end of 2024 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's research park in Daytona Beach, Florida. The partnership with Embry-Riddle includes a 10,000-square-foot hangar to "host electric aircraft development activities in order to prepare a new generation of trainer aircraft as well as the completion and delivery center of the INTEGRAL family."
Aura Aero is also developing the ERA (electric regional aircraft), a 19-passenger hybrid electric airliner, with a first flight planned for 2026.
The company announced in October it will begin construction in 2026 of a 500,000-square-foot Aura Aero aircraft factory at Daytona Beach International Airport, with a goal to produce 100 ERA aircraft per year starting in 2028. Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry welcomed the news as a "monumental step forward" that will create more than 1,000 jobs and make the city "a hub for innovation in the aviation industry."
Previously, aerobatic champion and airshow pilot Michael Goulian signed on as a brand ambassador for the Integral R.
"There is an opening in the airplane market for a modern and beautiful entry level aerobatic sport aircraft," Goulian said in the company's September announcement. "We look forward to flying and training in the INTEGRAL R, inspiring our pilots to take their interest in aerobatics to the next level."
The company, which has also built a factory in Toulouse, France, plans to deliver 15 Integral R aircraft in 2025, according to the certification announcement. It did not specify an expected timeline for FAA certification, which the company will pursue, and a spokesperson did not immediately respond to a price inquiry.
The Integral R also comes with a full airframe parachute, a first for the category, according to the company. It will also be equipped with datalogging capabilities to facilitate both postflight analysis and maintenance.
"Our customers will be able to access all the data to analyze their flights and will benefit from predictive maintenance to anticipate breakdowns," said company cofounder and COO Fabien Raison.
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