VoltAero selects Sonaca Group to develop the airframe for its Cassio family of hybrid-electric aircraft - VoltAero

https://www.voltaero.aero/en/press-releases/voltaero-sonaca-group-cassio/

 Médis, France – The airframe for VoltAero's Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft will be developed by Sonaca Group, applying this Belgium-headquartered company's expertise in optimized aerostructures to the VoltAero family of 4, 6 and 10-seat airplanes.

Under terms of the agreement unveiled today, Sonaca Group will transition Cassio from its current design status into a production-ready definition, and will oversee the aircraft's manufacture by an aerostructures producer to be announced at a future date.

"Our partnership with Sonaca Group takes us one very important step closer to production," said Jean Botti, VoltAero's CEO and Chief Technical Officer. "It continues our excellent progress in evolving a family of hybrid-electric airplanes – building on the flight evaluations now underway with VoltAero's hybrid-electric power module aboard our Cassio 1 testbed aircraft."

VoltAero's proprietary design for Cassio is based on a sleek, aerodynamically-optimized fuselage with a forward fixed canard and an aft-set wing with twin booms that support a high-set horizontal tail. Propulsion will be provided by a hybrid-electric power module in the aft fuselage "pusher" position, which integrates a cluster of electric motors with a high-performance internal combustion engine that serves as the range extender.

Hugues Langer, Sonaca's Chief Technology Officer, added: "Through our teaming arrangement, VoltAero will benefit from Sonaca's capabilities as one of the world's top 10 aerostructures companies, bringing our experience to transition Cassio from design into a production-ready aircraft."

VoltAero's Cassio airplanes are offered in three versions, each sharing a high degree of modularity and commonality: the Cassio 330, a four-seat configuration with propulsion from a combined hybrid-electric power of 330 kilowatts; Cassio 480, configured with six seats and a hybrid-electric propulsion power of 480 kilowatts; and Cassio 600, with a 10-seat capacity and hybrid-electric propulsion power of 600 kilowatts.

Cassio aircraft will be built on a final assembly line in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region of southwest France, with VoltAero leading a growing team of world-class partners and suppliers. Licensed production opportunities will be pursued in North America and Asia.

Deliveries are targeted to begin in 2023, starting with the four-seat Cassio 330 version.

About VoltAero

VoltAero is taking electric aircraft to an entirely new level. Benefitting from 50-plus years of combined pioneering expertise, VoltAero is developing Cassio, a truly unique general aviation airplane family for safe, quiet, efficient and eco-friendly flight in hybrid-electric and electric modes. A flight demonstrator, along with a ground-based "iron bird" system test rig and a powertrain test bench, are validating the Cassio configurations, de-risking them for airworthiness certification and the subsequent application on new-production airplanes. VoltAero is headquartered at the Royan-Médis Airport in southwestern France, where the company's design team and flight operations are located. Website: voltaero.aero

About Sonaca Group

Sonaca Group is an aerospace company active in aerostructure (Design & Build and Build to Print), services, innovation, space and defense. It has one-stop shops and integrated teams of design and industrial professionals who can provide responsive solutions tailored to customers'​ needs. Sonaca Group can offer the best price combination with the latest automation technologies, low cost country manufacturing facilities and worldwide engineering offices. Website: sonaca.com