Aquila Aviation International

What Aquila Aviation International does

Aquila Aviation International GmbH is a privately held German aircraft manufacturer founded in 1996 and headquartered at the Schönhagen airfield near Trebbin, south of Berlin. The company designs, certifies, and produces EASA-approved single-engine light sport aircraft built with in-house manufactured fiber-reinforced composite airframes, with the current product line centred on the two-seat AQUILA A211 (Rotax 912) and AQUILA A212 (Rotax 914 Turbo) families, plus the four-seat AQUILA A414 prototype. Variants differ primarily in avionics configuration: analog, Garmin G500TXi glass cockpit ("GX"), and Garmin G3X Touch fully digital cockpit ("G3X") versions, with the optional Garmin GFC500 three-axis autopilot certified in 2021. Manufacturing, engineering, and series production all occur at the Schönhagen site under EASA Part 21J.025 (Design) and DE.21G.0052 (Production) approvals, with composite structures produced using CNC-milled molds and Siemens NX CAD.

The company monetises aircraft through direct sales from its headquarters, a network of foreign distributors and sales agents, financing options, and a used-aircraft resale channel, with primary customer segments being European flight schools and flying clubs plus private pilots seeking touring capability. Ancillary revenue streams include maintenance and repair services delivered through designated partner FSB Aircraft Maintenance GmbH, EASA Part 145-supported maintenance training courses at EUR 714 per participant, spare parts sales, and third-party aerospace engineering services covering composite design, CAD construction, and certification support. Since 2016 the company has operated as a privately controlled subsidiary under M. Celal Gökçen — chairman and founder of Turkish automotive supplier BPLAS — with Gamze Boroğlu Zorlu as CEO; no institutional venture or private equity investment is disclosed. Market presence extends across Germany, Austria, and Indonesia, and the firm actively markets via AERO Friedrichshafen and other aviation events.

Name

Aquila Aviation International

Legal name

AQUILA Aviation International GmbH

Website

https://aquila-aviation.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AQUILA Aviation International GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer (founded 1996, Schönhagen) of EASA-certified, composite-construction light sport aircraft — the A211 and A212 two-seaters, with an A414 four-seater in development — sold to flight schools, flying clubs, and private pilots across Europe and Indonesia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Light Sport Aircraft

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Aircraft (3721), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

Training & Light Sport Fixed-Wing Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aerospace Interior Materials & Components (Cabin) (IMABANAI), Nacelles, Fairings & Aerodynamic Structures (IMABAEAE)

Keywords

• Light sport aircraft
• Composite aircraft manufacturing
• Pilot training aircraft
• General aviation manufacturing
• Fiber composite airframes

Headquarters

HQ city

Trebbin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. New Aircraft Sales: Sale of new AQUILA aircraft models (A211 and A212 variants) as the primary revenue stream. The company manufactures aircraft in series production at their facility in Schönhagen.
2. Used Aircraft Sales: Sale of pre-owned AQUILA aircraft through a dedicated used aircraft section on the company website.
3. Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Services: Repair and maintenance services for AQUILA AT01 aircraft provided through the company's EASA Part 145 Maintenance Organisation, with sister company FSB Aircraft Maintenance GmbH as their designated maintenance partner.
4. Maintenance Training Courses: Paid maintenance training courses (Wartungslehrgang) for type AQUILA AT01 (Line Maintenance), with a fee of 714.00 EUR including VAT per participant, limited to 6 participants per course over three days.
5. Spare Parts Sales: Sale of aircraft spare parts to customers. Contact for spare parts orders is [email protected].

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Aquila Aviation International GmbH designs, manufactures, and sells EASA-certified single-engine light sport aircraft (LSA) built from fiber composite materials, centered on the A211 and A212 model families offered in analog, Garmin G500TXi, and Garmin G3X Touch avionics variants. The company supplements aircraft sales with paid maintenance training courses, spare parts, engineering services (composite structure design, CAD, CNC mold making), and warranty support, primarily targeting flight schools, flying clubs, and private pilots in Europe and select international markets.

Product overview

Aquila Aviation International GmbH is a German aircraft manufacturer specializing in development, production, and sales of light sport aircraft (LSA) in composite fiber construction. The product portfolio centers on the AQUILA A211 and A212 model families, which share the same airframe but differ in engine configuration. The A211 uses normally aspirated ROTAX 912 engines while the A212 features the turbocharged ROTAX 914 engine. Both models are offered in multiple variants with different avionics packages: the basic analog version, the mid-range GX variants with Garmin G500TXi glass cockpit, and the entry-level G3X variants with fully digital Garmin G3X Touch displays. A future four-seat A414 model with ROTAX 915iSc engine is under development. The company also provides engineering services, CAD construction, mold making, and maintenance training courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AQUILA A211 Two-seat light sport aircraft (LSA) with composite fiber construction, ROTAX 912 engine, spacious cockpit suited to pilot training and comfortable touring for private owners.
• AQUILA A211G3X Fully digital version of the A211 with two Garmin G3X Touch displays (10" PFD and 7" MFD); available as day and night VFR variant; positioned as more affordable than analog A211 while offering a full digital cockpit.
• AQUILA A211GX A211 variant integrating the Garmin G500TXi glass cockpit and digital engine monitoring for pilots seeking a glass-panel configuration without the G3X Touch system.
• AQUILA A212 Two-seat light sport aircraft with the ROTAX 914 Turbo engine, constant high climb performance, 800kg MTOW, and 270kg useful load suitable for two persons with full luggage and full fuel; designed for training and touring.
• AQUILA A212G3X Turbocharged A212 combined with the fully digital Garmin G3X Touch cockpit and optional Garmin GFC500 autopilot, merging turbo performance with the cost advantages of the G3X avionics suite.
• AQUILA A212GX

Quantifiable outcome

• A212 achieves 270kg useful load at 800kg MTOW, enabling two persons with full luggage and full fuel
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and supportive.

• Tikno S. HandokominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Individual in Yogyakarta, Indonesia who facilitated the import, final assembly, and first flight of an AQUILA A211 delivered to Indonesia. Provided photography for the company's Indonesia market entry.
• FSB Aircraft Maintenance GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSB Aircraft Maintenance GmbH serves as AQUILA Aviation International's designated maintenance partner for the AQUILA AT01. They provide repair and maintenance services for the aircraft. FSB is listed as 'OUR MAINTENANCE PARTNER' on the company website.
• GarmincoreTechnology or IntegrationGarmin is the provider of avionics integrated into AQUILA aircraft, including G3X Touch displays, G500TXi, G5 instruments, GMC507 Mode Controller, and GFC500 autopilot systems. These systems are standard or optional equipment across all AQUILA aircraft variants.
• BRP-Powertrain (Rotax)coreTechnology or IntegrationBRP-Powertrain supplies the Rotax 912, 912 iS, and 914 turbo engines that power all AQUILA aircraft models. The company maintains extensive technical documentation, service bulletins, and maintenance information for Rotax engines, and offers authorized maintenance training for ROTAX aircraft engines.
• Siemens NXsupportiveTechnology or IntegrationSiemens NX is used as the CAD system for aircraft design and construction at AQUILA Aviation International. The company lists CAD construction with Siemens NX as a key engineering capability.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Garmin: US avionics supplier of the G3X Touch, G500TXi, G5 and GFC500 autopilot integrated into all Aquila variants — an enabling ecosystem partner that defines the digital cockpit experience Aquila sells.
• BRP-Rotax: Austrian engine manufacturer of the Rotax 912/914/915iS series that powers every Aquila aircraft. Strategic enabling partner/supplier rather than competitor, but a chokepoint dependency for Aquila's product line.

Broad incumbents

• Textron Aviation (Cessna): US-based manufacturer of the Cessna 152/172 Skyhawk — the dominant global flight training platform. Although priced and positioned higher, it competes with Aquila for the European flight school training fleet.
• Cirrus Aircraft: US-based manufacturer of the SR20/SR22 high-performance composite training/touring aircraft with Garmin Perspective+ avionics — a larger, broader incumbent competing for the same flight school and private owner segments but at a much higher price point.
• Robin Aircraft: French manufacturer of the DR400 series — a long-established EASA-certified 4-seat touring/training aircraft. A broader incumbent serving overlapping flight school and private pilot use cases at a higher price/performance point.

Direct peers

• Tecnam: Italian manufacturer of light aircraft including the P2002/P2008 trainer line, serving the same flight school and private pilot customer base as Aquila with comparable EASA-certified 2-seat piston composites and metal aircraft.
• Diamond Aircraft Industries: Austria/Canada-based composite light aircraft manufacturer producing the DA20/DA40/DA42 trainer and touring aircraft. Direct competitor to Aquila in the EASA-certified 2-seat training/composite LSA segment with overlapping target customer base of flight schools and private pilots.
• Pipistrel (Textron eAviation): Slovenian light aircraft manufacturer (now part of Textron) producing the Virus/SW trainer and the Velis Electro electric trainer. Direct competitor in the EASA-certified light sport and trainer segment.
• Flight Design: German manufacturer of the CTLS/CTSW line of light sport aircraft, headquartered in Germany and competing head-to-head with Aquila A211/A212 for flight school and private pilot customers in the European LSA market.
• Evektor: Czech Republic-based manufacturer of the Harmony/Aerobatic LSA line using Rotax engines and composite construction, overlapping directly with Aquila on technology, target markets, and EASA certification approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AquilaGmbh
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHk1I9FVKBV2Ht-WCcgCT-w
• Facebookfacebook.com/aquilaaviation
• Instagraminstagram.com/aquila_aviation_international

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aquila Aviation International