Aura Aero has opened its first manufacturing site for the Integral, its two-seat aerobatic trainer, in Daytona Beach and hopes to eventually build a factory for 19-seat hybrid-powered commuter aircraft within three years. The 11,000-square-foot facility opened last week at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Research Park and will be the French company’s U.S. headquarters and also the factory for the Lycoming-powered Integral, which will eventually come with an electric motor. The Integral was introduced at Sun ‘n Fun earlier this year and is being promoted by flight school owner and aerobatics master Mike Goulian. It’s fully aerobatic but aimed at the training market.
Meanwhile, the company is also working on its ERA commuter aircraft and hopes to build a 500,000-square-foot factory and become the first U.S. manufacturer of hybrid airliners in 2028. Aura says the 19-seat ERA will have a 900 nautical mile range with an onboard generator supplying its eight motors in a conventional high-wing configuration. The cargo version will carry two tons of freight. The company is also planning a nine-seat executive version of the plane. Aura says it has 650 orders for the regional aircraft and about half are from the U.S. It will also build a factory in France.
