Electra unveiled its plans for a nine-passenger EL9 ultra-short takeoff and landing (STOL) hybrid aircraft that will rely on distributed electric propulsion and blown-wing technology to take off with as little as 150 feet of runway. Calling the EL9 “just an airplane,” Electra CEO Marc Allen told a gathering at the company’s facilities on November 13 in Manassas, Virginia, that the reveal marks the launch of a “real product” rather than a vision. “It's not a prototype. It's not a concept. This is a product; it's a real-world, world-changing product,” said the former senior Boeing executive.
Targeted to reach market in 2029, the EL9 is designed to foster the concept of what Electra calls direct aviation—the ability to fly point-to-point directly to where a passenger wants, whether a parking lot, heliport, grass field, or small regional airport or other traditional airport infrastructure. “Ultra short” refers to the vehicle’s ability to operate into and out of a soccer field-sized space. Electra aims to bring an affordable aircraft to market that addresses issues surrounding access, noise, and emissions, Allen added.
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