Hybrid-Electric EL9 Ultra-Short STOL Aircraft Popular Before Production

Electric aircraft maker Electra said it has secured 2,200 pre-orders for its EL9 ultra-STOL hybrid-electric aircraft that has given management a boost of confidence and encouragement. The orders total nearly $9 billion, including its most recent customers Akansel in Turkey and Dieng & Co Engineering in Senegal in partnership with Aero (US/Turkey).

Electra said its order book is “one of the largest in the Advanced Air Mobility industry.”

Marc Allen, CEO of Electra pointed out, “Electra’s Ultra Short is the unlock for a new era of air travel – what we call Direct Aviation – that is as transformative as it’s practical. Hybrid-electric propulsion enables us to achieve what jet fuel alone can’t do; we’ve created a fixed-wing airplane that delivers the access of a helicopter with 100 times less noise, 70 percent lower cost, improved safety, and dramatically reduced emissions.”

The EL9 is capable of carrying up to nine passengers or 3,000 pounds of payload out to a range of 1,100 nm. It has integral in-flight battery charging that eliminates the need for ground charging infrastructure.

The company unveiled the design of the future EL9 after testing most of its technology on the smaller scale EL2 Goldfinch demonstrator aircraft that first flew in November 2023.

Allen added, “The response from the global aviation industry has been tremendous. Our customers see the EL9 aircraft as a true game-changer, and they’re using its ultra-short takeoff capabilities to open the door to new routes in areas with space and noise constraints. Together, we’re enabling a fundamental leap forward in advanced air mobility.”

Electra’s other recent customers include Caverton Helicopters in Nigeria, Copenhagen Helicopter and Copenhagen Air Taxi in Denmark, 5 Star Helicopter Tours in the U.S., Global Vectra Helicorp in India, and Helicidade Heliporto in Brazil.

FMI:  www.electra.aero/