Nine-Seat Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Hopes to Earn FAA Part 23 Type Certification

Electra is walking its EL9 hybrid-electric aircraft into the formal certification phase, filing its application with the FAA to begin the Part 23 process. Work with the FAA now shifts from compliance in development to acceptance of the certification plan and building out the test program.

“This certification application signals that the EL9 is fast becoming a reality and reflects the progress our team and the FAA have made together,” said Electra CEO Marc Allen. “We will continue to engage with the FAA to demonstrate that the EL9 is a reliable fixed-wing aircraft that will serve passengers, move cargo, and connect communities for many years to come.”

The EL9 is built around Electra’s “Ultra Short” concept, using a hybrid-electric propulsion system and a blown-lift wing that pushes airflow over the surface to generate lift at impressively low speeds. This design claims to give the aircraft the ability to take off and land in just 150 feet, meaning it can operate from small pads, parking areas, docks, industrial sites, or remote clearings.

Short-field capability is tied into the company’s broader idea of “Direct Aviation”: a model that ditches major hubs entirely in favor of point-to-point regional flying. Electra hopes operators will use the EL9 to link locations that lack the traffic or infrastructure for standard regional aircraft. The hybrid-electric part supports this message by lowering operating costs without sacrificing payload and range convenience.

Current interest in the EL9 stretches across government and commercial operators. Electra has secured contracts with the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and NASA, and says it holds letters of intent for more than 2,200 aircraft from airlines and helicopter operators looking for a new regional tool.

Just days before the application was announced, Electra revealed that it had created a whole new business sector devoted to the ultra-STOL’s development for the US military. “Electra Defense” centers on relieving the need for larger airlift planes like the C-17 and C-130.

FMI: www.electra.aero