The Aura Aero Integral R is a modern two-seater for the most demanding pilots, designed for advanced training and aerobatic flight. Presented to the international public during "Aero Friedrichshafen 2025", this French-made aircraft has already aroused great interest, even in Italy, where the Urbe Aero flight school has purchased one.

The first Integral R in Italy

Urbe Aero, a flight academy based in Rome, has announced the purchase of the Integral R number 008, thus becoming the first and only Italian operator of this new model. The delivery of the airplane is scheduled for next July, enriching the school's fleet with a cutting-edge machine for acrobatic and advanced training. "The aircraft will be used for Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT). We tested it during the certification phase in Toulouse and found it exciting", commented Lorenzo Mezzadri, Accountable Manager of Urbe Aero, underlining the satisfaction for the performance demonstrated by the aircraft. The arrival of this model marks a significant step for the training of Italian pilots, who will be able to carry out advanced training and Uprt courses on a new generation aircraft.

Performance and technical features

The Integral R is a two-seater side-by-side airplane with a classic landing gear (tailwheel). Built with a hybrid structure of wood and carbon fiber, it combines the lightness and flexibility of wood with the strength and durability of the composite. The result is a robust but relatively light airframe, capable of withstanding extreme stresses: the aircraft is certified for load factors of up to +7.5 G and -7.5 G in aerobatic trim, values that place it at the top of its category in terms of maneuverability.

From the propulsion point of view, it mounts a Lycoming AEIO-390-A3B6 engine of 210 HP (210 hp) at 2700 rpm, an injection engine certified for aerobatics. The combined propeller is a two-bladed variable pitch MT-Propeller, which helps to optimize performance both in climb and at speed. The declared flight performances are very respectable: the cruising speed is around 278 km/h (150 knots), with a maximum operational speed (VA, or maneuvering) around 300 km/h (162 kt). Despite its aerobatic vocation, the Integral R also offers a remarkable autonomy for an aircraft of this type –around 980 km of range (530 nm) thanks to the 159-liter tanks–, which allows for medium-range movements and navigation without the need for frequent refuelling. The stall speed is around 111 km/h (60 kt) in aerobatic configuration, a value low enough to guarantee safety during take-off and landing. The profile is completed by a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of around 1005 kg, consistent with the class it belongs to.

On the safety side, it should be noted that the model is equipped as standard with a ballistic parachute for the entire aircraft (ballistic recovery system). This feature, uncommon in traditional aerobatic airplanes, adds an important safety margin in the event of serious emergencies. It is no coincidence that the manufacturer presents it as "the safest aircraft in its category, especially thanks to the integral ballistic parachute". The fuel tanks are also flame-retardant (anti-explosion) to reduce risks in the event of an impact. The airplane obtained Easa CS-23 certification at the end of 2024, after a testing process that lasted about five years.

Series production began immediately after certification, with a planned production rate of around 15 units in 2025, a sign of the confidence placed in the project by both Aura Aero and the first customers.

Avionics and on-board technology

One of the areas where the Integral R shows its modernity is the avionics. The cabin is equipped with a latest-generation glass cockpit instrumentation, centered on the Garmin G3X Touch suite. This multifunction digital system provides the pilot with all flight parameters on color touchscreens, integrating GPS moving map navigation functions, engine and attitude indicators, all in an intuitive interface. In addition to the Garmin screens, the panel includes essential analog backup instruments –a combination that represents “the perfect integration between analog instruments and the Garmin G3X Touch suite” according to Aura Aero. The electronic equipment is completed by a Trig Avionics Mode S radio and transponder (installed as standard), as well as intercom and USB ports for external devices. The Integral R is primarily equipped for advanced VFR flight; The possible IFR capability will depend on the additional equipment (such as GPS and certified indicators) chosen by the operator, but the modern avionics predisposition makes instrumental use conceivable with the appropriate integrations.

Ergonomically, the cockpit offers adjustable seats and pedals to accommodate pilots of different heights, an important feature in a training aircraft that will be flown by many people. Visibility from the cockpit is excellent in all directions thanks to the transparent bubble canopy, which is crucial for both the instructor and the student during aerobatic maneuvers (where it is necessary to have clear visual references of the horizon and the ground). Having the two seats side by side, rather than in tandem as on other aerobatic aircraft, improves communication and coordination between instructor and student: being able to look side by side at the student, even touching the control stick or pointing directly at the instruments, is a significant pedagogical advantage during initial training in aerobatic maneuvers.

Another high-tech element is the digital platform that Aura Aero is developing for its aircraft. Thanks to the onboard telemetry systems, Integral R customers will be able to connect to a dedicated on-line portal to access recorded flight data, obtain a detailed debriefing on pilot and aircraft performance, and monitor the maintenance status of the aircraft. This functionality –expected to be activated by the second half of 2025– will allow training organizations like Urbe Aero to analyze every flight for educational purposes and proactively schedule maintenance, increasing safety and aircraft availability.

Uses: training and advanced aerobatics

The model was born with a marked operational versatility. Its flight domain covers a wide spectrum of missions: it is designed for basic and advanced Vfr training, including specific Uprt (Upset Prevention and Recovery Training) courses for the prevention and recovery from involuntary anomalous attitude, increasingly requested in the training courses of airline pilots. Precisely the use as an Uprt platform is one of the main reasons that pushed Urbe Aero to purchase it –being able to train its student pilots on a machine capable of voluntarily performing unusual attitudes and acrobatic maneuvers, they develop the skills to recover the airplane from extreme situations in safety-.

In addition to the training field, the Integral R is well suited to aerobatic competitions and sport flying. The manufacturer describes it as a “2.0 competition aircraft, born for the aerobatics of the future”. An airplane that can accompany a pilot from training to advanced level competitions. With its high roll rate, reinforced structure and powerful but reliable engine, it can perform all the classic aerobatic flight figures (+G and -G) and support intermediate/advanced category competition programs. It should be remembered that the Integral R, despite being innovative, is part of a French tradition of famous aerobatic aircraft (just think of the Cap-10 of the 1970s): compared to its predecessors, it offers more modern systems and greater power, while maintaining docile flight qualities and a certain economy of operation.

Another possible use is sports tourism. Thanks to the aforementioned autonomy of almost 1000 km and a cruising speed of around 280 km/h, the plane can also be used for transfers and medium-range recreational trips. Although not specifically designed as a travel aircraft, it offers the "possibility of travelling at controlled costs" combined with the fun of flying a highly agile vehicle. This also makes it interesting for aeroclub operators or private enthusiasts, who with a single aircraft can enjoy aerobatics on the weekend and travel comfortably for a cross-country flight.

In short, the Aura Aero Integral R represents a new generation of aerobatic trainer: an aircraft that blends modern technologies, safety and performance, aimed at both advanced flight schools and aerobatics enthusiasts. The imminent arrival in Italy of the first model marks the beginning of a presence in the country and will offer Italian pilots a unique opportunity to fly and train on this cutting-edge machine. With the Integral R, Aura Aero aims to redefine the standard in the aerobatic training sector, with an eye to the future (just think that an electric version called Integral E is also in development), but solid roots in classic aeronautical experience. 2025 therefore looks like an important year for the aircraft, between the first deliveries to customers –with Urbe Aero ready to receive its model in July– and the expansion into new markets, a sign that this small aerobatic aircraft has all it takes to be successful in the skies around the world.

See for details AVIONEWS 1, 2 and 3.

Below, the video of the aircraft presented at the German event: