Electra demos ‘blown lift’ for ultra short take-offs

+VIDEO Electra has successfully completed the first public demonstrations of its ultra short take-off and landing aircraft.

The demos show how blown lift and hybrid-electric propulsion together enable take-offs and landings in 150 feet or less.

Electra says its aircraft STOL capabilities “open the door to thousands of potential new routes” when its flagship EL9 Ultra Short aircraft reaches commercial service in 2029.

Electra video

The demos took place at several locations including:

• A 300ft by 75ft paved surface used for take-off and landing of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
• An access road on a closed test-bed campus research facility managed by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
• A grass field at The Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.

Gulp! Take off (and land) here!

Electra is working with its partner Surf Air Mobility, which operates two airline, Southern Airways and Mokulele Airlines.

“With Surf Air Mobility’s decade of operational experience, existing nationwide commuter scheduled flight network, and proprietary SurfOS software, Surf Air Mobility is creating a platform to enable the launch of new electrified aircraft,” said company statement.

Now that’s an aggressive climb attitude…

“Once certified, Electra’s EL9 Ultra Short aircraft has the potential to leverage Surf Air Mobility’s operations and software platform to bring the aircraft technology to market at scale.”

Marc Allen, CEO of Electra, added, “These demonstrations showcased breathtakingly short take-offs and landings and pinpoint landing capabilities with the power to transform aviation as we know it.”

‘Significant demand for Direct Aviation’

Wind tunnel illustration shows how blown lift works

A newly released study by researchers from Georgia Tech analysed regional travel demand and patterns in the US northeast, identifying significant demand for what Electra calls ‘Direct Aviation’.

Many of the regional routes identified fall within 50 to 300 nautical miles – too short for traditional air travel to be practical, but too far or congested for efficient ground travel.

Electra claims its EL9 aircraft operates at one-third the cost of a helicopter or eVTOL and is 100 times quieter. It integrates with existing aviation systems and is ready to deploy where demand already exists. More than 2,200 pre-orders from more than 60 operators worldwide are logged, said the company.

Electra