Mel Composites Supports ELA Aviation’s Next-Gen Gyroplanes

Source (All Images) | ELA Aviation

Mel Composites (Barcelona, Spain) is supporting gyroplane manufacturer ELA Aviation (Córdoba, Spain) with a range of high-performance composite materials and consumables for its next-generation aircraft platforms. The collaboration strengthens Mel Composites’ growing position within advanced aerospace mobility (AAM) markets.

Mel Composites supplies ELA Aviation with PVC foam cores, 3K and 6K woven carbon fiber fabrics, lightweight stitched multiaxial carbon fiber reinforcements and a complete package of vacuum consumables tailored for resin infusion manufacturing processes.

Founded 30 years ago, ELA Aviation evolved from experimental composite aircraft development in the 1980s into the autogyro manufacturer it is today. The company has delivered more than 1,000 aircraft worldwide from its manufacturing facility in Fuente Obejuna, Córdoba.

Mel composite materials are used throughout the ELA aircraft range, including carbon fiber structural components for fuselages, tail assemblies, fairings and trim systems. The composite structures contribute significantly to overall weight reduction and flight performance across ELA’s production models.

One example is the new Eclipse Revo, described as a fully enclosed, two-seat carbon fiber composite gyroplane capable of taking off without a runway. Combining an ultra-lightweight carbon airframe with a Rotax 916is engine, the aircraft can reportedly achieve takeoff in just 10 meters.

As specialists in resin infusion technology, ELA Aviation has developed highly consistent manufacturing processes capable of producing lightweight composite structures with tight weight tolerances. Working closely with Mel Composites, the companies further optimized laminate configurations and tailored vacuum consumable solutions to improve production efficiency and reduce material waste.

“We are proud to support ELA Aviation and the development of next-generation gyroplane platforms using advanced lightweight composite technologies,” Eduardo Galofre, CEO of Mel Composites, says. “We have also recently expanded our manufacturing capacity to provide additional options for custom-shaped core material kits as demand for advanced composite aerospace applications continues to grow.”