LH Aviation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Sébastien Lefebvre |
| Defunct | 2019 |
| Fate | Judicial liquidation; assets acquired by I-SEE Group |
| Headquarters | Melun-Villaroche , France |
Area served | International |
Key people | Sébastien Lefebvre (founder) |
| Products | Ultralight aircraft (LH-10 Ellipse series, LH-D UAV) |
Number of employees | 50 (2015) |
| Website | www |
LH Aviation was a French aircraft manufacturer established in 2004 and headquartered in Melun-Villaroche. The firm specialized in the development of the ultralight LH-10 Ellipse aircraft.
History
Created by Sébastien Lefebvre in 2004, LH Aviation focused on producing ultralight carbon fiber aircraft, available in both single- and two-seat configurations. The first prototype was a collaborative effort between Lefebvre and Frédéric Hubschwerlenson. The LH-10 series included various models such as automated versions and trainer aircraft, which were presented at the 2009 Paris Air Show.
By 2015, the company employed approximately 50 individuals at its Villaroche site, including a pilot dedicated to operations. LH Aviation secured funding from international investors, notably Mohsine Karim-Bennani from Morocco, who intended to create a subsidiary and manufacturing facility in Casablanca; however, this alliance eventually dissolved amid legal conflicts.
Lefebvre left the company in July 2016. Following several years of financial strain, LH Aviation entered a recovery phase in 2018 and proceeded to judicial liquidation by September 2019. Subsequently, its assets were acquired by I-SEE Group, which rebranded the LH-10 and LH-D models as IC-10 and IC-D for commercial deployment.
Key dates
- May 2004: Establishment of LH Aviation.
- September 2007: Maiden flight of the LH-10 prototype at Avia International Airshow.
- March 2008: Became a member of the Aerospace Cluster Activity at Melun-Villaroche.
- 2007: Displayed the LH-10 prototype on Champs Elysees during the Festival of Transport.
- July 2008: Exhibited at Farnborough Airshow.
- June 2010: Secured financial and operational support from Aeronautic Investment Fund Magellan Industries.
- June 2009, 2011, 2013: Participated in the 49th, 50th, and 51st Paris Air Shows.
- October 2011: Delivered first two surveillance aircraft to Benin’s Air Force.
- August 2012: Conducted inaugural flight of the advanced LH-10 Ellipse Surveillance version.
- 2012: Presented at Euronaval and Eurosatory; expanded military expertise; took part again in Paris Air Show.
- May 2013: Executed first rocket launch from an LH-10 Ellipse platform.
- April 2014: Established a subsidiary in Morocco.
- December 2014: French border police adopted the LH-10 for operations.
- January 2015: Introduced the Explorair 45 model.
- February 2015: Created an outsourcing division.
- 21 October 2018: Entered judicial liquidation proceedings.
LH-10 Ellipse
The LH-10 Ellipse is a tandem-seat aircraft primarily designed for pilot instruction, equipped with an advanced glass cockpit system.
LH-10 Guardian
Designed for surveillance roles, the LH-10 Guardian targets security and defense sectors with optimized mission capabilities.
LH-10 Elfe
The military-oriented LH-10 Elfe incorporates an airborne collision avoidance system to improve operational safety during missions.
LH-D
The LH-D is a carbon-fiber unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that offers an optionally piloted vehicle (OPV) option, enhancing its adaptability across different uses.