At the close of the Aero Friedrichshafen show on 11 April 2025, Elixir Aircraft received Damien Cazé, Director of the French Civil Aviation Authority. A delegation from the Observatory for Sustainable Aviation (OAD – Observatoire de l’Aviation Durable) made the trip for Elixir Aircraft, chosen for the 8th stage of the Territorial Meetings on the Decarbonization of Air Transport. On this occasion, Elixir Aircraft announced that it had started up the Turbotech TP-R90 turbine, fitted to an aircraft for the first time. The next step will be a flight powered entirely by SAF (sustainable aviation fuel), during 2025.
OAD’s first international meeting
At the Aero Friedrichshafen trade fair, Damien Cazé, Director of the French Civil Aviation Authority, and Sandra Combet, Secretary General of the Observatory for Sustainable Aviation (OAD – Observatoire de l’Aviation Durable), held the 8th stage of the Territorial Meetings on the Decarbonization of Air Transport on the Elixir Aircraft booth. In doing so, they are promoting French industrial solutions internationally.
The OAD wanted to discover Elixir’s Carbon OneShot technology, an all-carbon aircraft design in just nine parts, with no rivets or glue. This innovation considerably simplifies the aerostructure, guarantees greater safety and reduced maintenance, while making the aircraft lighter and more fuel-efficient than models with a metal or partially composite structure.
In order to enrich its digital platform documenting French industrial innovations and to better support the development of Elixir Aircraft, the OAD delegation held discussions with representatives of key production and customer support professions.
“In France, we see decarbonisation not as a constraint but as an opportunity. An opportunity to innovate and to conquer new markets. Elixir Aircraft is a perfect example of success in both these areas.” said Damien Cazé.
“The official visit from the DGAC and its Observatory for Sustainable Aviation is the culmination of ten years’ work. We are now a recognised aircraft manufacturer on the world market. This first international visit by the OAD makes us very proud to share with the DGAC the visibility of French wings around the world.” said Cyril Champenois, Co-founder and Head of Sales of Elixir Aircraft.
Turbotech’s TP-R90 turbine first assembled on aircraft
As part of this official visit, Elixir Aircraft announced the 1st installation of the Turbotech TP-R90 turbine on an aircraft. This is an essential step in the BeautHyFuel project, supported by the CORAC (Conseil pour la Recherche Aéronautique Civile – Civil Aviation Research Council) and the DGAC, led by Elixir Aircraft and Turbotech, in partnership with Safran Aircraft Engines, Daher and Air Liquide.
The engine integrated into Elixir’s prototype No. 1 was started up in La Rochelle in February 2025. This ground test follows the first liquid hydrogen burns, a ground demonstration that took place in September 2024 at Air Liquide’s Grenoble Technologies Campus, and the first engine qualification test campaign carried out in January 2024 at ArianeGroup’s Vernon site.
An aircraft adaptable to all fuels
Certified since 2020, Elixir aircraft represent a fleet of 30 training aircraft in Europe. Elixir Aircraft has chosen the reliability of the Rotax engine to respond immediately to the needs of flight schools. The Elixir is a 4th generation aircraft, the most environmentally-friendly in its category, thanks to its composite structure and low fuel consumption of 12 litres per hour.
Elixir Aircraft is pursuing its technological development towards decarbonisation in three stages:
The first start-up on an aircraft will validate the turbine’s certifiability and operating safety in accordance with CS-23 requirements. With this research programme and its ongoing quest for innovation in the design of its 4th generation aircraft, Elixir Aircraft is preparing for the future.
Elixir Aircraft is a French aircraft manufacturer founded in 2015 to meet the challenges of global light aviation. Based in La Rochelle, it has over 150 employees and is recruiting massively. Elixir Aircraft designed and has been building a 4th-generation two-seater aircraft, certified EASA CS-23 since 2020. Elixir Aircraft uses technology from the world of competitive sailing, the “Carbon Oneshot” (in one piece), to simplify structures. More simplicity means fewer failures, so greater safety, but also less maintenance, and lower costs (estimates of savings of $50/h fuel and maintenance). At the end of 2021, Elixir Aircraft opened a new production site in Périgny, Charente Maritime, to bring production of all carbon parts in-house.
There are 30 Elixir aircraft currently in operation, with over 300 of the 4th-generation Elixir aircraft on the order book (firm orders, pre-orders and letters of intent). In June 2023, the French President announced a 13-million euro subsidy for Elixir Aircraft. In early 2024, Elixir Aircraft announced the closing of its development financing for the next 5 years, with a budget of 40 million euros. Elixir Aircraft is preparing to open a new 15,000 m2 facility in La Rochelle and another in Sarasota, Florida.
