Elixir Aircraft Elixir

Elixir
The Elixir
General information
Type	Light aircraft
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Elixir Aircraft
Primary users	ATO & FTO Flying clubs, private pilots
History
Introduction date	20 March 2020
First flight	31 August 2017

The Elixir is a French two-seat, fixed-tricycle gear general aviation airplane, designed and manufactured by Elixir Aircraft in La Rochelle ^[1] The aircraft is certified CS-23 by the European Aviation Safety Agency since 2020 ^[2] and received the FAR Part-23 certification by the FAA ^[3] during EAA AirVenture ("Oshkosh") 2025. ^[4]

Intended primarily for flight training and personal touring, the Elixir is notable for its Carbon "OneShot" technology, which uses Carbon Fiber to mold the entire wing and fuselage components in single pieces, significantly reducing the number of parts compared to traditional aircraft. ^[5]

Design and development

Development

Elixir Aircraft was founded in 2015 with the goal of creating a fourth-generation aircraft that addressed the complexity and aging fleet issues of traditional general aviation. The prototype first flew in 2017 from La Rochelle Airport. ^[6] . After extensive testing, the aircraft received its EASA CS-23 certification in March 2020 and its FAA certification in July 2025.

The initial aircraft production is at Périgny, next to La Rochelle. It is intended to move production to a new factory at La Rochelle airport ^[7]

Design

Unlike traditional aluminum aircraft (riveted metal sheets) or earlier composite aircraft (bonded halves), the Elixir uses a technology called "Carbon Oneshot". This process allows major structures such as the wing and the fuselage to be molded as single continuous pieces. This design philosophy reduces the airframe part count from thousands (in traditional metal aircraft) to fewer than 1000, aiming to lower maintenance costs and structural failure points.

The aircraft features a T-tail configuration and an unintentional spin-resistant low-wing monoplane design. It is powered by a Rotax 912 iS engine with a three-bladed MT-Propeller tractor propeller, offering fuel efficiency suitable for flight schools. The cockpit is designed with a focus on ergonomics, featuring a full glass cockpit (Garmin G3X) as standard.

Safety features include an explosion-resistant fuel tank and a Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS) parachute.

Variants

• Elixir 912 iS: The standard production model powered by a 100 hp Rotax 912 iS Sport engine. This variant is EASA CS-23 certified and is approved for both Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Night VFR (NVFR) operations.
• Elixir 915 iS: A higher-performance variant powered by the turbocharged 141 hp (105 kW) Rotax 915 iS engine. As of now, this model is undergoing certification.
• Turbine: A development version powered by a turboprop engine (TurboTech TP-90). The prototype completed its maiden flight and is currently in the flight testing phase. This project is also associated with research into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) usage.

Training

The Elixir was designed specifically to address the needs of modern flight training organizations, aiming to replace aging fleets of legacy aircraft. It is increasingly adopted by flight schools and aero clubs due to its significantly lower operating costs, driven by the fuel-efficient Rotax engine and the reduced maintenance requirements of its "OneShot" carbon airframe structure. The inclusion of a full glass cockpit is considered advantageous for training student pilots, as it familiarizes them with the avionics environments found in modern commercial airliners :

Major training organizations have selected the aircraft for their training programs:

• Cirrus Aviation ^[8]
• Omni Aviation Training Center ^[9]
• Airways Aviation ^[10]
• ENAC ^[11]
• Egnatia Aviation ^[12]
• Leading Edge Aviation ^[13]
• Rubric Aviation ^[14]

Specifications - Elixir 912 iS

General Characteristics ^[15]

Category	100hp
Crew	1
Passengers	2
Length	6.06 m (19 ft 11 in)
Wingspan	8.48 m (27 ft 82 in)
Height	1.90 m (2 ft 23 in)

Performance characteristics ^[16]

Category	100hp
Powerplant	Rotax 912iS
Propeller	3-bladed MT-Propeller
Fuel Capacity	100L (26 US gal)
Maximum Range (75% power)	793NM
Speed at 75% Cruise	122kt
Fuel Consumption at 75% Cruise	12.5L/h (3.3 US gal)
Maximum Range (85% power)	610NM
Speed at 85% Cruise	125kt
Fuel Consumption at 85% Cruise	15L/h (3.9 US gal)
Maximum Range (50% power)	809NM
Speed at 50% Cruise	110kt
Fuel Consumption at 50% Cruise	11L/h (2.9 US gal)
Climb Rate	950-1300 ft/min
Load Factor	+4 / -2 G
Service Ceiling	10,000ft

Incidents

The Elixir has had a few incidents; all during the landing phase of flight, the events have resulted in injuries however no fatalities.

• 14th February 2024 - F-HKEC ^[17] , During a post-maintenance check flight departing from La Rochelle (LFBH), the crew declared a "Pan Pan" emergency during the approach phase. The BEA report indicates the accident was caused by an in-flight disconnection of the elevator control following the maintenance intervention. The aircraft made a hard landing, resulting in the collapse of the nose gear and a runway excursion.
• 7th March 2025 - F-HLOT ^[18] , The pilot landed by night on runway 20 and started the landing run with the aim of carrying out a touch-and-go. When she was about to increase power, the aircraft veered off the runway centreline. The pilot returned to the centreline but the aeroplane sideslipped for a second time and ran off the runway. The nose gear was substantially damaged. The final BEA investigation report has not yet been published to determine the exact circumstances of the event.
• 2nd May 2025 - F-HCDN ^[19] , Shortly after taking off from Amboise, at the end of the initial climb, the warning light “Lane A” lighted up. The pilot turned back to make an emergency landing on runway 10 at Amboise. The aircraft bounced during the landing and veered off the runway. The nose gear broke and the aircraft overturned. The investigation is ongoing, and conclusions regarding the causes await the final BEA report.
• 2nd September 2025 - G-RLXB ^[20] , During landing at Fife Airport (EGPJ), the aircraft veered off the runway onto the grass, causing the nose wheel to detach. The AAIB recorded the event as a loss of directional control during landing.

References

1. Kate Sarsfield (30 November 2016). "Elixir aircraft preparing piston-single for 2017 first flight". FlightGlobal.
2. "Elixir Aircraft receives EASA CS-23 certification - JEC". www.jeccomposites.com/. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
3. Sarah Deener (24 July 2025). "Elixir aircraft FAA-certified". AOPA.
4. "France's Elixir Aircraft Secures FAA Part 23 Certification - AVweb". avweb.com. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
5. "Elixir Aircraft Receives FAA Part 23 Certification - Plane + Pilot". planeandpilotmag.com. 4 August 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
6. Sarsfield, Kate (20 September 2017). "Elixir two-seat piston-single takes flight". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
7. Sarsfield, Kate (20 June 2019). "Elixir Springs to Life". Flight Global.
8. Deshayes, Marine (8 January 2026). "Elixir Aircraft receives its first firm order in the USA and will deliver 10 aircraft to cirrus aviation". Elixir Aircraft (in French). Retrieved 28 January 2026.
9. "Portuguese Flight School Takes Delivery of New Elixir Aircraft in October 2025". AFM.aero. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
10. Jeta, Aviation (19 June 2025). "Elixir Aircraft Signs 16-Aircraft Deal with Airways Aviation". Aviation Jeta. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
11. "France's ENAC Orders 30 Elixir Aircraft". AFM.aero. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
12. "Greek Flight School Egnatia Aviation to Receive Six Elixir Aircraft in 2025". eplaneai (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 January 2026.
13. "UK-headquartered Leading Edge Aviation Adds 4th Elixir Aircraft to Spain Base Fleet". AFM.aero. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
14. Aircraft, Elixir (7 March 2025). "Elixir Aircraft Delivers First Aircraft to Rubric Aviation for Scottish School Fife Flight Centre". Aero Crew News. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
15. "Elixir Aircraft | The Most Versatile Aircraft for Flying Clubs". Elixir Aircraft (in French). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
16. "Elixir Aircraft | The Most Versatile Aircraft for Flying Clubs". Elixir Aircraft (in French). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
17. "Accident survenu à l'Elixir immatriculé F-HKEC le 14/02/2024 à La Rochelle (17)". bea.aero (in French). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
18. "Accident to the Elixir registered F-HLOT on 07/03/2025 at Le Mans-Arnage AD". bea.aero (in French). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
19. "Accident to the Elixir registered F-HCDN on 02/05/2025 at Amboise AD". bea.aero (in French). Retrieved 17 December 2025.
20. "AAIB Record-only investigations reviewed: September - October 2025". GOV.UK. Retrieved 17 December 2025.

External links

• company website