MagniX Debuts Electric Motor for Light Aircraft

MagniX has expanded its electric propulsion lineup to lighter general aviation aircraft with the introduction of the MagniAIR, an air-cooled engine targeting kitplanes, light sport aircraft, and electric flight trainers.

The Everett, Washington-based company announced the engine on Tuesday at the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida, where it is showing the MagniAIR alongside a Van’s Aircraft RV-10 that will be fitted with the motor as part of a full electric powertrain. The electric RV-10’s first flight is scheduled for later this year, and the motor will be available to purchase in 2027.

Producing 175 kilowatts—roughly 235 hp—at a weight of 55 kilograms (about 121 pounds), the air-cooled MagniAIR is designed to replace piston engines in the 160- to 235-hp range. It integrates with MagniX’s Samson batteries and the rest of the company's powertrain components, including the power electronics that underpin its larger Magni350 and Magni650 engines, which have powered aircraft ranging from a de Havilland Beaver seaplane to a Cessna Grand Caravan. 

“We are very excited to bring the marvel of electric flight to a new segment of the market,” said MagniX CEO Reed Macdonald. “Thanks to MagniX’s full powertrain, integration is simple and cost-effective, bringing electric flight to kit plane builders and enthusiasts.”

The new engine also stands to benefit from a regulatory tailwind. The FAA’s Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule, finalized in July 2025, removes the old light sport aircraft weight limit and opens the category to new propulsion types, including electric motors. 

For kit builders, electric propulsion's lower operating costs and reduced maintenance needs are practical selling points beyond the environmental case. MagniX also sees potential for the MagniAIR in eVTOL and defense applications.

“Fuel prices and maintenance costs are causing the cost of flight training to rise at the same time as the industry faces an acute shortage of pilots,” said Ben Loxton, v-p of product development at MagniX. “MagniAIR offers to reduce the expense of flight training and other small aircraft applications with a lower cost of operation, reduced maintenance, and zero carbon emissions.”

Following its Sun ‘n Fun debut, MagniX will exhibit the MagniAIR and its broader powertrain lineup at Aero Friedrichshafen in Germany next week.