The United States Air Force has awarded Electra and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) a small business technology transfer contract to advance the development of flight control systems for Electra’s hybrid-electric ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft. Under the STTR Phase II contract, Electra and MIT plan to collaborate in an effort to speed the development of enhanced precision flight control systems for repeatable low-speed, ultra-STOL landings that would allow Electra to safely operate its eSTOL aircraft in spaces no larger than a soccer field. Electra plans to demonstrate the flight control system on a full-scale hybrid eSTOL technology demonstrator aircraft during flight testing later this year.
The STTR award follows a Phase I contract last year, under which the Electra-MIT team developed an eSTOL aeropropulsive model, a vehicle sizing tool, and a flight control performance simulation. “We are delighted to continue working with MIT and the U.S. Air Force to develop state-of-the-art flight control systems for ultra-STOL aircraft,” said Chris Courtin, Electra’s lead engineer of flight physics and controls. “Reliable precision landings are key to Electra’s ability to deliver runway-independent operations with increased payload, range, and safety for both military and commercial uses.”
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