Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

Electra Aero this week reported that wind tunnel tests with a model of its EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft have confirmed that its blown wing design can generate the lift needed to takeoff and land in just 150 feet. The 20% scale model of the nine-seater was tested in the Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
According to Electra’s engineering team, the tests demonstrated lift coefficients greater than 20, which the company said is around seven times higher than the 2.5 and 3 coefficients for aircraft with conventional wings. The blown lift technology is expected to increase the EL9 wing’s lift capability at low speeds to enable flight from spaces of around the size of a soccer field, supporting new regional air services that would not be dependent on access to current commercial airports.
In a conference session during the EBACE 2025 show on May 20, Marc Ausman, Electra’s vice president for sales and support, said that air will blow over the wing at around 80 to 90 knots, enabling the aircraft to fly approaches at just 35 knots. He maintained the company offers a more realistic path to market, compared with various eVTOL aircraft developers that he said are promising “crazy timeframes” that have confused investors.
<h2>Accelerating Certification, Reducing Risk</h2>
“To speed up the certification process and reduce [program] risk we are breaking down the phases of development, starting with a subscale model built at low cost and also using the <a href="https://backend.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-05-23/xti-names-powertrain-partners-trifan-600-vtol-aircraft">[EL2] technology demonstrator</a> that can fly under an experimental license,” Ausman explained. “This all buys down the risk and gets the learnings we need as we now build the aircraft for type certification, which is a more rigorous process.”
Electra said that confirmation of the EL9’s approach and landing flight profiles means it will be able to meet the safety and stall requirements for FAA type certification under Part 23 rules. It plans to start flight testing a full-scale prototype in 2027 and achieve certification and first deliveries in 2029.
“This is a major milestone in demonstrating the EL9’s ability to take off and land in spaces never before possible for fixed-wing aircraft,” said Chris Courtin, Electra’s director of technology development. “Verification of the effectiveness of the optimized EL9 wing shows that the EL9 is both transformative and practical.”
The Virginia-based company is promoting the aircraft for both civil and military applications. It has reported pre-order agreements with more than 50 <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2025-03-20/customer-base-grows-electras-el9-hybrid-electric-stol">prospective operators</a> and has received U.S. Army funding for development work, as well as financial backing from Honeywell, Lockheed Martin and Safran.
Electra, which recently completed a $115 million <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2025-04-22/prysm-leads-115-million-funding-round-electra-aeros-el9">Series B funding round</a>, has appointed Max Ochoa as chief financial officer. Before moving into corporate legal and financial roles, he started his career as an aerospace engineer with GE Aerospace Engines. Most recently, he served as CFO for Satelles, where he was involved in its acquisition by Iridium Satellite Communications.

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Electra Says EL9 Wind Tunnel Tests Confirm UltraShort Aircraft Performance

Tests involved a 20% scale model of the nine-passenger commuter and utility aircraft

Electra Aero has reported on recent wind tunnel testing for its EL9 UltraShort blown wing design in MIT's Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel.

Electra Says EL9 Wind Tunnel Tests Confirm UltraShort Performance

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