News archive: Electra.aero eSTOL | Airframer

21 July

ReleaseElectra to usher in the next era of aviation with advanced production facility in Springfield, Ohio

17 July

ReleaseEvolito submits type certificate application for E800 electric engine on Electra's EL9 aircraft

15 July

The EL9 is designed to operate from runways of 150 feet or less, carrying up to nine passengers.

Electra’s EL9 ultra-short hybrid advances toward certification

Completion of the G-1 milestone paves the way for the G-2 phase, in which Electra will define the EL9's means of compliance.

15 July

ReleaseElectra and Safran reach development and production agreement for TG600 turbogenerator to power EL9 hybrid-electric aircraft

10 June

The concept combines a lifting fuselage with electrically powered boundary layer ingesting tail fans.

Electra advances hybrid-electric concept architecture for 2050

NASA-backed research has explored how electrification could deliver additional efficiency gains while remaining compatible with existing airline operations.

19 February

Electra reports more than 2,200 pre-orders of its EL9 from over 60 commercial customers worldwide.

Electra.aero secures US patents for hybrid-electric blown-lift control system

Newly granted patents protect propulsion integration, power management and pilot interface systems for the nine-passenger EL9 Ultra Short aircraft.

12 February

Evolito joins Honeywell, Syensqo and Aciturri as key suppliers on the Valo programme.

Evolito to power Vertical’s Valo eVTOL

A long-term agreement between the two companies supports certification plans and advances development toward commercial service in 2028.

17 December

Electra’s Ultra Short technology enables quiet, reliable operations from spaces as small as 150 feet, expanding access to thousands of take-off and landing sites.

Electra kicks off Part 23 application for hybrid-electric EL9

The move advances the nine-passenger aircraft into formal certification following years of engagement with FAA policy and standards teams.

3 December

ReleaseElectra launches Defense unit to deliver next generation airlift solutions for the last tactical leg

13 October

ReleaseElectra selects Evolito to supply electric engines for the EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft

2 October

Electra expands facilities for EL9 Ultra Short development

The company has added hangar and office space in Virginia and expanded its Swiss centre, supporting the growth of its hybrid-electric EL9.

3 July

Electra secures U.S. Army contract for hybrid-electric Ultra-STOL development

The $1.9 million award backed further testing and evaluation of hybrid-electric propulsion systems for Electra’s EL9 ultra-short takeoff and landing aircraft.

19 June

ReleaseLockheed Martin and Electra expand collaboration to accelerate EL9 Ultra-STOL commercialization

21 May

Electric motors blow air over the EL9’s wing and large flaps, enabling unprecedented ultra short takeoff and landing capabilities. Recent MIT wind tunnel tests with a 20% scale model of the wing validated lift coefficients 7x greater than traditional aircraft.

Wind-tunnel tests confirm Electra's lift potential

Using a 20 per cent scale model of the EL9 wing, recent tests have demonstrated lift coefficients greater than 20 , which is around seven times greater than the range typical of unblown wings.

24 April

The EL9 can take off and land in spaces as short as 150 feet.

Electra raises $115m to push EL9 towards certification

More than 2,200 EL9s have been pre-ordered by commercial and defence operators due to the aircraft's hybrid-electric Ultra Short capability.

26 March

ReleaseGAMA welcomes four new members

20 November

Electra’s EL9 Ultra Short aircraft enables what it calls Direct Aviation, a new category of safe and seamless travel.

Electra reveals design for EL9 hybrid-electric aircraft

Electra has over 2,100 orders for the EL9 from 52 operators worldwide, representing more than $8 billion in market value. The first test flights are planned for 2027, with service entry anticipated in 2029.

23 September

ReleaseElectra conducts multiple flight demonstrations of Ultra Short Aircraft for U.S. military

7 August

ReleaseElectra’s eSTOL Goldfinch is first piloted electric aircraft to fly at NASA’s Langley Research Center

31 July

Electra’s Diana Siegel, CFO, and JP Stewart, VP and GM, with Honeywell Aerospace Technologies’ David Shilliday, VP and GM, and Taylor Alberstadt, Sr. Director, Global Sales & Account Management, announced the technology partnership and investment at the Farnborough Air Show.

Electra specifies Honeywell for key flight technology

Honeywell’s compact fly-by-wire (cFBW) flight control computers are augmented by electronics, rather than manual controls. The computer for the aircraft’s flight controls is about the size of a paperback book.

18 July

ReleaseElectra's hybrid eSTOL aircraft aces first grass field test flights

29 May

The test flights, piloted by Cody Allee, took place through April and May 2024 at the Manassas Regional Airport and Warrenton-Fauquier Airport in Virginia.

Electra achieves first ultra-short eSTOL takeoff in piloted test

The EL-2 Goldfinch aircraft took off in less than 170 ft and landed in under 114 ft ground roll, the aircraft reached an altitude of 6,500 feet, and it flew as slowly as 25 kts on takeoff and landing.

24 April

US armed forces put faith in Electra's eSTOL

Two new contracts will enable powered wind tunnel testing to advance Electra's novel aerodynamics database for use in performance analysis, simulator, and control law development, and a conceptual study for the Navy.

22 November

Electra's EL-2 Goldfinch takes off on its first hybrid-electric flight on November 19, 2023.

Electra claims world's first hybrid-electric eSTOL flight

The two-seat Goldfinch eSTOL technology demonstrator is reckoned to be the world's first blown lift aircraft using distributed electric propulsion and a hybrid-electric propulsion system.

26 July

ReleaseClimate tech fund Statkraft Ventures invests in Electra to accelerate sustainable aviation

21 June

ReleaseSafran signs agreement with Electra to develop turbogenerator for the propulsion of its hybrid-electric aircraft

12 June

ReleaseElectra unveils full-scale technology demonstrator aircraft to begin flight testing its proprietary eSTOL technology

4 June

ReleaseVIPC’s Virginia Venture Partners invests in Electra to provide efficient and sustainable air travel

19 April

ReleaseVIPC awards Commonwealth Commercialization Fund grant to Electra.aero, Inc.

26 January

ReleaseU.S. Air Force awards Electra Strategic Funding Partnership valued up to $85M to develop full-scale pre-production eSTOL aircraft

18 October

ReleaseElectra achieves sale of 1,000th sustainable eSTOL aircraft

8 September

Hybrid engine testing marks progress for Electra

Testing of the hybrid-electric system took place at Electra's propulsion development facility in Switzerland. The system uses high-power battery packs and a turbogenerator to power eight electric motors and propellers.

9 June

Electra’s hybrid eSTOL design delivers the flexibility of a helicopter combined with the superior operating economics of a fixed wing for clean, quick access to final destinations.

Electra acquires fellow eSTOL developer Airflow

Electra is consolidating Airflow's eSTOL business under the Electra brand. It will integrate Airflow's highly experienced team, backlog of letters of intent and strategic partnerships into its own activities.

17 March

Electra’s hybrid eSTOL aircraft with precision landing capabilities will support runway-independent operations where an airfield may no longer be accessible.

Electra/MIT team gains USAF funding for flight controls

Electra's eSTOL aircraft can operate from spaces as small as 300 x 100 feet using its patent-pending distributed electric propulsion and blown lift technology. Funding will help develop its flight control system.

8 February

ReleaseElectra wins Phase III SBIR contract with U.S. Air Force to accelerate development and acquisition of eSTOL aircraft

18 January

The Airframer Bulletin