Washington state-based MagniX has introduced the MagniAIR, its first electric aircraft engine developed specifically for general aviation (GA) airframes.

The company designed the zero-emission, air-cooled motor for applications currently served by 120- to 175-kilowatt piston engines. These include flight training and recreational flying. 

The engine weighs 55 kilograms (about 121 lb) and delivers up to 175 kW, giving it what MagniX describes as a class-leading power-to-weight ratio. The company plans to make the MagniAIR available for purchase in 2027.

MagniAIR motor to reduce fuel consumption, operating costs

The MagniAIR forms part of a complete powertrain that includes power electronics and proprietary Samson battery packs. In a statement released earlier this month, company officials claimed the engine was devised in response to rising costs in general aviation.

Ben Loxton, vice president of new product development at MagniX, noted that many training aircraft in use today date back to the 1970s. “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,” he said.

MagniX is working to integrate the MagniAIR into a Van’s RV-10 kit plane as part of a full-electric powertrain. In flight tests, the company aims to demonstrate lower operating costs through reduced fuel consumption and simpler maintenance compared with traditional piston engines. The modified aircraft is scheduled to fly later in 2026, and it will be on display at Sun ‘n Fun in Lakeland, Florida.

Reed Macdonald, CEO of MagniX, emphasized the MagniAIR’s versatility, stating it “can be used for any application currently powered by a 120-to-175-kilowatt piston engine.”

The MagniAIR motor is also designed to fit light-sport aircraft under the FAA’s Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule. Potential additional uses include defense applications and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) platforms.

The certification challenge

Certification remains a key hurdle in the US. In 2021, the FAA issued special conditions for MagniX’s earlier engines, but has yet to grant the company crucial Part 33 type certification. As a report from Flying Mag pointed out, MagniX and ZeroAvia are the only companies with active FAA certification projects for electric aircraft engines.

In Europe, things are moving a little faster. In 2020, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified Pipistrel’s E-811 engine in 2020, as well as Safran’s ENGINeUS 100 last year.

The launch of MagniAir adds to MagniX’s broader portfolio in electric and hybrid-electric propulsion. The firm, known for its Magni350 and Magni650 engines, launched the HeliStorm for helicopters in 2025.

It holds partnerships with Robinson Helicopter on a battery-electric R66 demonstrator, with NASA on a hybrid-electric De Havilland Dash 7 retrofit, and with DeltaHawk Engines on a US Air Force hybrid-electric powerplant project.