Skunk Works Checks Out the Electra EL9 for Short-Field Support Duties

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works and Electra have formed a significant partnership to develop the EL9, an ultra-short takeoff and landing (Ultra-STOL) aircraft.

The two companies just extended their partnership through a new memorandum of understanding that will blend Lockheed’s defense-grade expertise with Electra’s bold hybrid-electric vision. A hybrid- electric aircraft could redefine what fixed-wing operations look like. The EL9 is a very interesting concept combining a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft that is capable of taking off in 150 feet, carrying a payload of 1,000 pounds and flying over 1,000 miles. The hybrid-electric system would create a much more efficient and quieter system than your traditional engine and with a 70% lower operating cost, which we could all appreciate. Now, as a pilot who may appreciate the days before planes and cars were becoming electric, you had to plot your route on a paper sectional chart, or use your clock to measure noon time to find lines of longitude. Maybe we didn’t appreciate the complexity or the inaccuracy compared to what we have today, that makes life a little easier, once you’ve read the 100-page POH.

If you’ve ever flown into a tight bush strip or into an airport on the mountains, this aircraft does check a lot of those boxes: short-field performance, low fuel burn, and fewer moving parts. It is designed to operate from other than normal surfaces/ runways, making it a great fit for tactical and cargo operations among others as well. Electra's customer base is primarily made up of most U.S. military branches with growing interest from commercial airlines, making the EL9’s design capability well-suited to their operational demands.

Lockheed brings expertise on aerospace manufacturing to the table in many ways-digital engineering, manufacturing capabilities, and global defense access. Electra, having already completed a successful test run with a two-seater, is moving quickly towards certifying the EL9 as airworthy. The aviation industry is ever changing and growing; this could set a new standard for small aircraft and what they are capable of especially in areas where it is needed. Electra’s CEO noted, “This relationship will accelerate our speed to market to bring the EL9’s transformative capabilities to our military customers.”

FMI: www.lockheedmartin.com