EL9 Hybrid Electric Aircraft By Electra Electra continues to move ahead with the development of their hybrid-electric aircraft called the EL9. The company has its eyes set for certification in 2029. In a world that is trying to produce so many eVTOL aircraft it is refreshing to see a hybrid version and this one is described more as a Blown-Lift aircraft so rather than relying specifically on energy-intensive electric duct fans to vertically lift and then transition into horizontal flight, this aircraft would take off more like a conventional craft but with much shorter distance utilized. The company expects the aircraft to be able to take off and land in as little as 150-feet.
As part of the thrust to continue development on the EL9, funding access is important and the company managed to recently secure approximately 115 million dollars in cash for development. As of March 20th, 2025 Electra secured 2,200 pre-orders for the short take-off hybrid electric aircraft. This has amassed over 10 billion dollars in pre-orders making it one of the largest in the Advanced Air Mobility industry so far.
“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,” said Marc Allen, CEO of Electra. “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 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.”
The EL9 aircraft in the future will be carrying up to 9 passengers -hence the model name-. This is a fairly attractive passenger count considering the aircraft will have a range of around 1,100 nautical miles with a payload of 3,000 lbs. There are no eVTOL's at present that offer this kind of range or payload capacity. Additionally there is no need to wait on charging at a vertiport either. With in-flight battery recharging that eliminates the need for ground charging infrastructure for the EL9. For more information: Electra Aero 10761 James Payne Ct Manassas, VA 20110 United States www.electra.aero ***
