Electra proves 150-foot takeoff and landing capability in demo flights with Surf Air & Virginia Tech
August 14, 2025
Electra has successfully completed the first public demonstrations of its hybrid-electric ultra short takeoff and landing (USTOL) aircraft technology, in partnership with Surf Air Mobility and Virginia Tech.
The demonstrations, conducted earlier this month at several Virginia Tech locations, showed how Electra’s “blown lift” technology and hybrid-electric propulsion can enable takeoffs and landings in as little as 150 feet.
Electra’s EL2 technology demonstrator flew from an unmanned aircraft systems runway, a closed access road, and a grass field at Virginia Tech Corporate Research Centre.
“These demonstrations showcased breathtakingly short takeoffs and landings and pinpoint landing capabilities with the power to transform aviation as we know it,” said Marc Allen, CEO of Electra.
The company’s planned production model, the nine-passenger EL9 ultra-short takeoff and landing (Ultra-STOL) aircraft, is scheduled to enter commercial service in 2029.
Ultra short aircraft operations go from concept to market with Surf Air Mobility
Once certified, Surf Air Mobility plans to integrate the EL9 into its network of commuter airlines, Southern Airways and Mokulele Airlines. The company’s nationwide commuter route system and proprietary SurfOS software could make it easier to scale Ultra Short operations.
“The aircraft will be faster to turn around, less expensive to operate, and easier to deploy,” said Louis Saint-Cyr, Surf Air Mobility COO and president of Hawaii operations. “These demonstration flights were a critical step forward in Electra’s journey to commercialisation.”
Virginia Tech’s Eric Paterson, executive director of the National Security Institute, described the demonstrations as “a first glimpse of how air travel will work in the near future,” highlighting the potential for the EL9 to operate from everyday environments rather than traditional airports.
The EL9 will deliver on Electra’s vision of direct aviation
At the heart of Electra’s Direct Aviation concept, supported by its ultra short technology, is enabling air service that bypasses large hubs by using smaller, underused sites like soccer fields, campuses, and local airstrips.
A Georgia Tech study found high potential demand for such operations, especially on routes of 50 to 300 nautical miles. These trips are often too short to justify conventional air travel but too time-consuming for ground transport.
Electra claims the EL9 will operate at one-third the cost of a helicopter or electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft while being 100 times quieter. The company says it has more than 2,200 pre-orders from over 60 operators worldwide, including airlines, helicopter operators, and government customers such as NASA and the U.S. military.
Electra’s US Army contract to study hybrid-electric technologies
This July, the U.S. Army awarded Electra a $1.9 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to advance the research and development of hybrid-electric powertrain, power, and propulsion systems (HEPPS).
“This work gives the Army a clear path forward in understanding how hybrid-electric technologies can support real operational demands while enabling entirely new logistics capabilities,” said Donn Yates, Vice President of Government Programs at Electra. “Electra’s hybrid-electric Ultra-STOL aircraft redefines what’s possible for Army Aviation with its ability to operate from small, rugged sites, reduce fuel demand, and increase flexibility for the commander.”
The Ultra-STOL aircraft EL9 will undergo a range of technical maturation and risk reduction activities related to hybrid-electric propulsion.
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works MoU for EL9 Ultra-STOL study
In June, Electra signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works to explore opportunities for Electra’s EL9.
Electra will work with Lockheed Martin to accelerate the development of the EL9 in areas such as manufacturing, supply chain, sustainment, and global business.
Skunk Works and Electra will also assess opportunities for EL9 programs with the US Department of Defence and global customers.
