Elixir targets US flight schools with Elixir+ and teases larger Equinox model

French aircraft manufacturer Elixir Aircraft introduced the Elixir+ family of light trainers at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, revealing three versions of the two-seat airplane priced from about $275,000. 

The company also used its July 21, 2026, press conference at AirVenture to tease Equinox, a larger training aircraft now under development. 

Elixir first unveiled the upgraded Elixir+ at AERO Friedrichshafen in Germany in April 2026. At Oshkosh, the manufacturer announced the names and intended market niches for the three versions that will make up the aircraft family: Essential, Expert and Elite. All are equipped with Garmin’s new Axis integrated avionics system and Rotax piston engines. 

The Elixir+ Essential is aimed at primary flight training and cross-country flying. The Expert adds IFR capability and is powered by a 100-horsepower Rotax engine. The top-of-the-line Elixir+ Elite will combine IFR capability with a turbocharged 141-horsepower Rotax 915 iS engine. Elixir said the added performance is intended for operators flying in hot-and-high conditions, as well as flight schools seeking a faster aircraft for advanced training. 

The Essential and Expert versions are expected to cruise at about 125 knots, while the Elite is targeting a cruise speed of roughly 150 to 160 knots, according to the company. 

The Elixir+ lineup is targeted at US flight schools. The company said the higher-powered version could appeal to schools operating in places such as Colorado, where altitude and summer temperatures can reduce aircraft performance. Elixir also sees demand from advanced training organizations that want students to manage IFR workloads at faster speeds. 

The Elixir+ family incorporates changes developed from operational experience with the existing Elixir fleet. The French manufacturer said 63 aircraft are now operating in Europe, primarily with flight schools, with some individual aircraft approaching 1,000 flight hours. 

Elixir received FAA certification for the two-seat aircraft in 2025 and began delivering airplanes to US customers this year. Three Elixirs are on display at AirVenture, including an aircraft flown to Oshkosh by customer Cirrus Aviation in Sarasota, Florida. Two aircraft were flown to AirVenture from France. 

Cirrus Aviation has ordered 10 aircraft, while another flight school buyer, Sierra Charlie Aviation, previously announced plans to purchase as many as 100. 

Elixir is building its US support operation in Sarasota, where it plans to establish customer support, spare-parts capabilities and an aircraft reassembly and delivery line. Aircraft shipped from France will undergo final assembly and preparation there before delivery to US customers. The company said it intends to open a US customer center in Sarasota in early 2027. 

Elixir is also increasing production in France as it prepares for further international expansion. The manufacturer recently raised €45 million, equivalent to approximately $51 million, to increase manufacturing output, expand in the United States and fund development of Equinox model. 

Elixir has so far revealed few details about Equinox beyond its name and the fact that it will be larger than the current two-seat aircraft. 

The company said the new airplane will complement the Elixir family and address the needs of flight training organizations. It will carry forward technology and manufacturing principles used on the existing aircraft, including Elixir’s one-piece carbon-composite structural approach. 

Elixir said its approximately 20-person design office has begun work on the Equinox program, with additional details expected to be revealed in the coming months. The post Elixir targets US flight schools with Elixir+ and teases larger Equinox model appeared first on AeroTime.

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