VoltAero has officially opened the factory that will make its Cassio 330 hybrid-electric aircraft at Rochefort Airport in Western France.
Located at Saint Agnant in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, the purpose-built 2,400 square meter (26,000 square feet) final assembly facility is the primary site for the production and delivery of the Cassio-family of aircraft. It has the capacity to build 150 airplanes annually at full rate.
On the same site is VoltAero’s headquarters as well the company’s design, engineering, flight test and administrative departments.
According to VoltAero it has more than 200 orders for its family of three Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft. The 4/5 seat, Cassio 330 is the first it is developing and has a range of 1,200km (745 miles) and a maximum cruise speed of 333km/h (200mph).
The company has said it plans to fly its full-scale Cassio 330 by the end of this year.
Jean Botti, the company’s CEO and chief technology officer said, “We are addressing the highly important market requirement to connect thousands of communities and regions around the world with truly sustainable and efficient advanced regional air mobility – while remaining fully compatible with the airport and air traffic control infrastructure.
“Our electric-hybrid propulsion system for Cassio provides the dual-source power to fly safely and is based on electric battery technology that is available today.”
VoltAero’s factory and offices at Rochefort Airport has been designed with an emphasis on sustainability to France’s RT 2005 regulations for energy-efficient buildings. The buildings feature a mixed concrete/wood structural design and the use of wooden floors where appropriate, integration of skylights for natural lighting, rainwater harvesting and photovoltaic panels for electrical power.
The facility has direct access to Rochefort Airport’s 2,280m long x 45m wide runway, and links to the region’s road, rail and sea transportation links. The airport’s master plan includes the potential for the factory’s future growth, as well as enabling suppliers and service providers to develop their own presence as they support the Cassio production.
“With VoltAero’s cornerstone presence, we look forward to the future evolution of an industrial ecosystem for sustainable aviation at Rochefort Airport and in the vicinity,” stated Gérard Pons, president of the Syndicat Mixte des Aéroports de La Rochelle – Ile de Ré et Rochefort – Charente-Maritime.
Cassio aircraft configuration
VoltAero plans to certify the Cassio 330, which has a four/five-seat interior configuration as its first aircraft in late 2025.
The Cassio 330’s powertrain has a combined electric-hybrid power of 330kW, with 180kW delivered by Safran’s ENGINeUS 100 electric motor and 150kW provided by a Kawasaki thermal engine. The four-cylinder engine is derived from one used on a motorbike.
Cassio aircraft will use the internal combustion engine as a range extender, to recharge the batteries and as a backup in the event of a problem with the electric propulsion.
VoltAero, which was founded in 2017 is developing Cassio for use by regional commercial operators, air taxi/charter companies, private owners, and utility applications such as logistics and medevac.
The company plans to follow up the Cassio 330 with the six-seat Cassio 480, which will have a combined electric-hybrid propulsion power of 480 kilowatts, and the 10/12-seat Cassio 600.
The company has been using the Cassio S – a modified Cessna 337 Skymaster – as a flying testbed and to demonstrate its technology since March 2020.
