magniAIR Powertrain for Trainers, Sportplanes Now on Display at SUN ‘n FUN 2026
magniX is making a big push for the sustainable general aviation market, launching a brand-new fully electric engine designed for trainers, light sport aircraft, and kitplane builders. The so-called magniAIR powertrain is being shown off at this year’s SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo alongside its primary flight test platform: the Van’s RV-10.
magniAIR aims to replace traditional piston engines in the 120–175 kW class. The unit produces 175 kW while weighing only 55 kg (121 lb), putting it in line with the typical performance ratio of many existing general aviation aircraft… minus the fuel burn and mechanical complexity. When put on an actual airplane, this means lower operating costs, reduced maintenance, and simplified integration, especially thanks to its drop-in installation design.
magniX is initially pushing for experimental and light sport categories with lower certification barriers, meaning quicker adoption. Ground zero for this move is a modified Van’s RV-10, which will host magniAIR’s flight test campaign for the foreseeable future.
The timing lines up with much-anticipated regulatory updates. The Federal Aviation Administration is finally preparing to implement MOSAIC rules, which are set to expand the scope of light sport aircraft. This potentially opens the door for wider use of electric propulsion in training and recreational flying.
Flight schools are a big target. Many trainers still in operation have long passed grandparent age, and operating costs have steadily increased hand-in-hand with fuel prices. Electric propulsion offers a way to reduce those costs while simplifying maintenance cycles: two factors that directly impact the price of pilot training.
magniAIR is also being positioned for nearby market niches, including small eVTOL platforms and defense applications, though its initial rollout is firmly focused on general aviation. The engine is expected to enter the market in 2027, with flight testing scheduled to begin later this year.
“Fuel prices and maintenance costs are causing the cost of flight training to rise at the same time as the industry faces an acute shortage of pilots,” said Ben Loxton, VP of New Product Development at magniX. “magniAIR offers to reduce the expense of flight training and other small aircraft applications with a lower cost of operation, reduced maintenance, and zero carbon emissions.”
