FutureFlight
U.S. Air Force Provides More Funding for Electra's eSTOL Aircraft
Under a Strategic Funding Increase, the Afrwerx innovation unit is making up to $85 million available to support the Virginia-based start-up's efforts to build and fly a full-scale preproduction model.
The U.S. Air Force is evaluating military roles for Electa's eSTOL aircraft.
The U.S. Air Force is evaluating military roles for Electa's hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft. (Image: Electra)

Electra’s plans to bring its eSTOL aircraft to market have received a boost with the U.S. Air Force awarding it up to $85 million to develop a full-scale preproduction example of the hybrid-electric model. The Air Force’s Afwerx innovation unit announced the Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) on January 26, with the money to be made available through a mix of private investments, government grants, and matching Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funds.

The Virginia-based company says it is close to starting test flights with a two-seat blown-lift technology demonstrator. The production version of the as-yet-unnamed eSTOL aircraft is expected to carry up to nine passengers or 2,500 pounds of freight and to operate from runways of no more than 300 feet in length.

In this article