David Loury, Founder and CEO of Centauri Aircraft in Hayward, California, talked about his design, the retractable-gear, composite canard Valkyrie aircraft at the 2025 EAA AirVenture Air Show and Fly-in in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The airplane is powered by a Continental TSIO-550 or IO-550 six-cylinder engine driving a Hartzell 3-blade propeller that has a service ceiling of 25,000 feet MSL. It is unpressurized, and has 4 or 5 seats,
The Valkyrie is designed with a lot of attention to detail regarding the flight controls, ergonomics of the cockpit, the interior, and engine cooling. The canopy tilts forward to open, enabling a very easy entry and exit. The cabin is wide, a bit wider than the Cirrus SR-22.
Loury said they’ve learned a lot from current builders and pilots, and they are aiming squarely at Cirrus customers in the future. It closely mimics features of the SR-22 including same empty weight, same engine options, and a BRS or ballistic recovery system (airframe parachute).
The two most visible things that the Valkyrie from the Cirrus are its pusher engine configuration and the retractable gear.
The company has been focusing on the overall experience of the airplane, and Loury says when you’re flying it, you have an incredible visibility all around from the cockpit. For enthusiasts and potential customers the company has a VR headset that takes one through a pattern flight in the airplane.
The controls are tight, particularly for pitch since there are just two pushrods, no cables, from the stick to the canard.
Loury said they are convinced Centauri has a minimum viable product in the Valkyrie that compares favorably to other experimental airplanes. The airplane is sound and safe, it’s been flying and they’re getting to know the airplane’s hardware and how it flies.
They’ve made nine of them and Loury said he thinks in about 10 or 15 years, people flying the Cirrus today may look at the Valkyrie and may want to make a trade.
Loury said the kit is sold for $585,000 including the factory-assist program but without the engine and prop. He said they’re being aggressive but customers are getting the airplane for about half the price of the leading manufacturers in the single-engine piston market. Centauri is taking orders and have had some already.
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