At the Aero Friedrichshafen trade show in Germany last week, French start-up Aura Aero signed a purchase agreement with Norges Luftsportforbund, the Norwegian Air Sports Federation, for the purchase of an Integral E electric two-seat aircraft. Norges Luftsportforbund is purchasing the Integral E in a tow-plane configuration and plans to use it to tug gliders at the Ole Reistad center for gliding near Elverum, Norway.
The Integral concept will also be available in a pilot training version (Integral S) as well as a format designed for leisure and aerobatics (Integral R). Powering the Integral E are batteries that will enable users to charge the aircraft in less than half an hour. The lightweight aircraft was developed with easy maintenance and repair in mind, according to the company.
Aura Aero wrapped up ground testing of the Integral E prototype last May, and on April 22 the company announced that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had issued it a permit to begin flight-testing the Integral E. Pending approval from the French civil aviation authority, Aura Aero aims to make its first flight in the coming weeks.
Also during the Aero Friedrichshafen show, Aura Aero launched a partnership with Societe Generale Equipment Finance (SGEF) to offer financing at competitive interest rates for those interested in buying an Integral aircraft. “We are making it easier for pilot schools and aviation clubs to decide in favor of Integral,” remarked Aura Aero’s chief commercial officer, Drew McEwen.
ERA Program Inches Forward
In addition to the Integral aircraft, the company has been working on a 19-passenger hybrid-electric regional airliner, the ERA, since 2021. On April 17, Aura Aero signed a pre-application services contract with EASA for the ERA program, an important step toward beginning the type certification process.
“Aura Aero is the first company to cooperate with EASA in the field of electric commuter aircraft,” commented Luc Tytgat, high representative to EASA’s executive director. “We at EASA are convinced that general aviation and mid-tier companies are good incubators for developing innovative solutions.”
The company also issued its first large calls for tender last week. It is seeking suppliers for fuselage design, airframe engineering services, turbogenerators, and primary flight control system actuators and inceptors.