‘World first’ flight for French-made electric plane in Toulouse

The first French-designed and manufactured all-electric aircraft has successfully flown for the first time with a 12-minute test flight from Toulouse (Occitanie).

The flight took place on December 3. The two-seater jet, named the Integral E, took off from Toulouse Francazal airport at 08.48 and returned to land 12 minutes later. Weather conditions were good and there was a light wind. The test pilots were Hervé Poulin and Guillaume Garnier.

Created by Toulouse-based manufacturer Aura Aero which received €95 million in European funding, the plane is designed for training, leisure and aerobatics. It is powered by the ‘ENGINeUS engine’ - made by French aircraft manufacturer Safran - and generates 150 kW of power supplied by 215 kg of batteries. 

The plane has a flight range of around one hour. After that the batteries need recharging (just as an electric car needs periodic recharging). It also has an emergency parachute in case of a problem. 

A ‘world first’

The aircraft is much quieter than its combustion-powered equivalent and produces zero emissions when flying. It is being hailed as a major step towards the zero carbonisation of flight.

“This flight is really a world first because it opens the way for the decarbonisation of light aircraft for this new category of planes,” said Aura Aero in a statement reported by Actu Toulouse.

Jérémy Caussade, chairman and co-founder of Aura Aero, said: “This is a very emotional day for all the teams at Aura Aero. The maiden flight of the 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 meet, in an electric version, many of the needs expressed by training schools and flying clubs. 

“We are very proud of how far we have come in the last six years and of the commercial success already achieved by the Integral family. The decarbonisation of aviation is now a reality,” he said.

Flight schools and wide interest

The plane has sparked interest among flight schools and operators of light aircraft, particularly as it will halve the cost of one hour of flight compared to a combustion-powered plane. 

If all goes well with the continued testing and gaining approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, the plane will be available to the commercial market in two years (end of 2026, early 2027). Aura Aero has already received several dozen orders.

Aura Aero is a start-up founded six years ago by former Airbus engineers (Airbus is headquartered in Toulouse). The company is now also developing a hybrid plane called the Era, which is expected in 2028. This plane will have greater passenger capacity, with 19 seats. It is initially intended to be used for regional travel. 

The firm has recently announced plans to open a new 50,000 sqm factory in Toulouse-Francazal, as well as another 40,000 sqm site in Florida, US.