Aviation startup Electra has received around $9 billion in pre-orders for its upcoming EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft.
Electra unveiled its EL9 hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (STOL) in November last year.
The company says the new aircraft offers ‘low noise, affordability, and sustainability’.
And it seems there are plenty of folks keen to find out for themselves, as just four months on, Electra has secured 2,200 pre-orders for the EL9.
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The EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric will be able to carry up to 1,361kg
The Advanced Air Mobility industry is big business at the moment, as numerous companies aim to develop next-generation air transport, such as French-based Beyond Aero which is gearing up to launch the world’s first hydrogen-powered business electric jet, and XPeng with its futuristic X2 flying car.
US-based Electra is also making big moves in the industry with its EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft.
The aircraft uses blown lift and hybrid-electric propulsion to take off and land in just 150 feet.
Once up and running, it will be able to carry a pilot and 1,361kg (3,000lb) of cargo, or nine passengers with luggage, distances up to 2,037km (1,265 miles) at a speed of around 322km/h (200mph).
Because the aircraft is super-quiet and doesn’t need much room to take off or land, it can operate from numerous spaces such as fields and fields, as well as airports and helipads.
Electra has planned the first test flights for 2027, with certification and service entry expected in 2029.
The new aircraft is a ‘true game-changer’
“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 Electra CEO Marc Allen.
“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.”
In an interview with Aviation Week, Allen noted that the speed of the EL9 is ‘not quite the same as some of the aircraft that will move you with turbine speeds’, but added that this won’t be an issue on routes of around 370km (230 miles) which the team ‘envisions are going to be a big part of this aircraft’s performance’.
And it seems like the EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft is poised to be a big success.
Following its unveiling last year, the company has already pulled in 2,200 pre-orders from 52 operators worldwide, worth around $9 billion – making it one of the largest order pipelines in the industry.
“The response from the global aviation industry has been tremendous,” Allen added.
“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.”
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