French electric aircraft developer Aura Aero will open its first U.S. facility at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. During last week’s Farnborough Airshow, the company announced its plans for a 500,000-sq-ft manufacturing and assembly plant at the school’s research park in Daytona Beach.

Aura Aero is developing a two-seat electric training aircraft called the Integral E, which is based on the existing Integral R and S piston singles. Powered by Safran’s EngineUs electric motor, this model is expected to have a flight endurance of 60 minutes, with batteries that can be recharged in less than 30 minutes. In April, EASA issued a permit to fly, giving the company clearance to start flight testing.

The Toulouse-based group is also developing a 19-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft dubbed ERA. It is aiming to have a prototype ready to start flight testing in 2026, with a view to achieving type certification in 2028. ERA’s all-electric range would be just 90 nm, but this would increase to up to 900 nm when using the as-yet-unspecified hybrid-electric powertrain.

In the first stage of its partnership with Embry-Riddle, Aura Aero will start working from a 10,000-sq-ft hangar where a team will contribute to developing the Integral E model. This facility will also be used as a completion and delivery center for Integral aircraft.