Total Outstanding Commitments For The Electra eSTOL Total 18
Electra Aero, a next generation aerial mobility company, recently secured purchase commitments for 180 of the company’s hybrid-electric ultra-shot takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft. The deals, taken together, are worth more than $500 million over the coming years.
Electra is seeing success with small charter operators, air service providers, and infrastructure developers in multiple countries as stakeholder pivot towards smaller, greener air transit.
Electra’s newest large agreements have been signed with Skyportz, Australia advanced air mobility infrastructure development specialist, and Flapper, the largest Latin American on-demand private aviation platform. Though not common household names in America, both have relatively large footprints in the rapidly expanding mobility industry. Electra’s hybrid-electric aircraft is a good fit for these operators, able to carry 7 passengers or 1800 pounds of cargo up to 500 miles in all weather conditions. Most importantly for the urban customers it’s courting, it can take off and land in just 100 feet, with in-flight battery recharging. Electra advertises itself as the cost-effective and sustainable solution, delivering 2.5 times the payload and 10 times the range with 30% of the operating costs of a similar VTOL.
Flapper is Latin America’s leading charter flight reservation platform, offering passenger and freight cargo booking for over 730 aircraft. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, Electra will be Flapper’s preferred aircraft provider for 5+ seat regional air services. For Electra’s preferred service provider in Brazil, Flapper also commits to purchase 15 eSTOL aircraft with the option to buy another 15. Both companies will jointly pursue the development of route networks, heliport operators, investors, and developers for needed real estate. Flapper has projected a savings of 40% in their switch to electric aircraft in operating costs alone.
John S. Langford, Founder and CEO of Electra aero, says the deal is more than just a simple purchase agreement. “"These strategic agreements go beyond the technological development and manufacturing of the aircraft. They chart the entire ecosystem needed for its successful operation, ground support, and customer use that together validate the commercial viability and market confidence in our eSTOL aircraft."
Another major partner with Electra, Skyportz Air Mobility Network, focuses on building a range of locations for use in air taxi projects. They aim to be able to offer “the backbone of a destination network” through property development and selection. Electra is currently the only aircraft production partner, with an MOU that includes a purchase agreement for up to 100 eSTOL aircraft. The companies will work together to create early trials with Electra’s full-scale tech demonstrator, entering American flight testing in 2022.
"At Skyportz we are assembling the infrastructure backbone to make Australia even more attractive for innovative aircraft builders looking for a place to trial real world use cases," noted former Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne Clem Newton-Brown, Founder and CEO of Skyportz. "We look forward to introducing Electra to our property, freight and logistics partners and developing some viable applications for their aircraft.”
Total outstanding commitments for the Electra eSTOL total 180, counting recent customer Bristow Group’s 50-plane order.
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