Aircraft manufacturer Elixir Aircraft flies in La Rochelle

Build airplanes. The dream of three young friends, Nicolas Mahouet, Cyril Champagne and Arthur Léopold-Léger, two aeronautical engineers, associated with the captain, ten years later is no longer a “slightly crazy” project.

Not satisfied with the fact that in 2015 Elixir Aircraft, a company specialized in light aviation and based at the La Rochelle-Île de Ré airport, was created every month to produce a two-seater aircraft with more sober and less economical composite materials expensive that prepare the aircraft of tomorrow to finally pass the certification The entire series, the trio is now set to conquer the American market.

On Tuesday, April 9, at the Sun’n’Fun Air Show in Lakeland, Florida, Elixir Aircraft announced the creation of its first factory in the United States, at Florida’s Sarasota Bradenton Airport, dedicated to the initial reassembly of delivered aircraft. For US customers, as well as the opening of facilities in Arizona and the US Midwest, where more than 200 Elixir aircraft have already been ordered by pilot schools.

Simplifying assembly

“The US represents about 70% of the world market [l’Europe à peine 10 %]Cyril Champenois, a former Dassault employee, points out. Light aircraft are used there more than in any other country, and orders are therefore larger. »

Crossing the Atlantic was no easy task for a small passenger plane “fourth generation”, which has emerged since 2008 thanks to the relaxation of the strict rules of aviation certification agencies. Elixir Aircraft was able to build its two-seater prototype entirely in composite, a unique concept borrowed from the marine industry. This is one of the reasons for setting up a factory in La Rochelle.

The so-called “OneShot” technology, used to build racing boats in one piece and in one operation, made it possible to simplify the assembly of aircraft by reducing the number of rivets, bolts and screws. Ultimately, the reduction in production and maintenance costs makes it possible to reduce its selling price (€339,000 without taxes). Thus, the Elixir 100HP has less than a thousand parts, compared to almost 17,000 for the famous American Cessna with which La Rochelle intends to compete. “Anything that can reduce costs is definitely in the interest of Americans”Kirill Champenois smiles.

less intensive fuel

Its revolutionary design has another advantage, making the aircraft lighter and less fuel intensive (12 to 16 liters per hour at 300 km/h compared to 30 liters for the Cessna). In a transition period where aviation is looking for a path to decarbonisation, the take off of Elixir Aircraft is timely.