French aircraft manufacturer Aura Aero is stepping up plans to start assembling planes for the North American market after receiving millions of dollars in additional support from the state of Florida.
Aura Aero unveiled its plans to build its first North American factory in Daytona Beach in Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Research Park at the 2024 Paris Air Show.
The company’s first 10,000-square-foot hangar will be home to US assembly, delivery, and customer support for Aura Aero’s INTEGRAL two-seater trainer with aerobatic capabilities, which is already certified in Europe and under the FAA fast track process for US certification, company officials said.
The hangar will also be home to two prototypes of INTEGRAL E, the all-electric version, that will soon fly in the skies of Daytona Beach to conduct a flight test campaign, with plans for first deliveries in 2027, according to company officials.
The company received $3.4 million in funding from Space Florida to outfit the hangar.
Eventually, the company will build a 500,000-square-foot factory in Daytona Beach that will build its 19-seater hybrid-electric aircraft, ERA. The company reports it already has 650 orders for the ERA.
This project, expected to create more than 1,000 jobs, recently got the green light from Space Florida, which has agreed to finance up to an extra $200 million.
For more information: SpaceFlorida.gov, Aura-Aero.com
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