AURA AERO takes X‑Volt back to the skies, advancing hybrid‑electric innovation for ERA’s development

Just two months after acquiring VoltAero’s assets, AURA AERO has returned the Cassio S hybrid‑electric demonstrator to the skies at Rochefort Airport—now flying under its new name, X‑VOLT. As one of the earliest hybrid‑electric demonstrators to accumulate substantial real‑world flight hours, X‑VOLT now represents a key technological asset for AURA AERO.

Its flight data, patented systems, and the insights gained from years of testing will strengthen the company’s ongoing work on INTEGRAL E and ERA. Going forward, X‑VOLT will operate as a flying testbed for ERA’s propulsion technologies, supporting the development of AURA AERO’s future 19‑seat hybrid‑electric regional aircraft, whose first flight is planned for late 2027.

Equipped with Safran ENGINeUS electric motors—the same propulsion units selected for ERA—X‑VOLT will allow AURA AERO to validate key components of the aircraft’s future hybrid‑electric propulsion system under real operational flight conditions, well before they are integrated into the ERA prototype. The demonstrator will also serve as a platform to integrate and flight‑test advanced systems developed either by AURA AERO or by industry partners seeking a reliable airborne test environment.

With more than 350 hybrid‑ or all‑electric flights completed across X‑VOLT and INTEGRAL E, AURA AERO is leveraging the combined experience of two pioneering programs to accelerate the development of a new generation of electric and hybrid‑electric aircraft.