Hybrid-electric Electra EL9 pre-orders hit 2,200 units
March 21, 2025
Electra Aero has secured 2,200 total pre-orders for its nine-passenger EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft, with additional international operators taking the Virginia-based developer’s pre-order pipeline to nearly $9 billion.
Describing its order book as “one of the largest in the advanced air mobility industry,” Electra Aero is developing a novel clean-sheet aircraft integrating “blown lift and hybrid-electric propulsion to take off and land in just 150ft”. This, explains Electra, will enable air operators to “connect communities that lack aviation infrastructure, fly into airports with strict noise restrictions, create new opportunities and business models for cargo services, and save travellers significant time and hassle”.
Offering up to 3,000lbs of payload capacity and a range of up to 1,100nm, the Electra integrates blown lift aerodynamics with hybrid-electric propulsion, with eight electric motors placed along the leading edges of the fixed wings. A turbogenerator (supporting up to 100% SAF and potential future use of hydrogen) charges battery packs in-flight, thereby eliminating the need for ground charging infrastructure.
“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% lower cost, improved safety, and dramatically reduced emissions,” explained Electra CEO Marc Allen.
Electra’s most recent customers include Akansel (Turkey) and Dieng & Co Engineering (Senegal) in partnership with Flow Aero (US/Turkey), Caverton Helicopters (Nigeria), Copenhagen Helicopter and Copenhagen Air Taxi (Denmark), 5 Star Helicopter Tours (US), Global Vectra Helicorp (India), and Helicidade Heilporto (Brazil). This diverse range of mission profiles aim to make the most of the aircraft’s ability to operate from austere locations, short-field range, and low operational costs – with Electra noting that the EL9 will be able to fly from spaces including grass fields, car parks, and repurposed heliports.
Previous commitments helicopter group and Electra’s operational launch partner Bristow, alongside various on-demand private aviation platforms and regional carriers worldwide. The military has also expressed interest in the concept, with the US Army pledging a $1.9 million grant in April 2024 to support wing tunnel testing.
The company’s EL2 ‘Goldfinch’ subscale demonstrator completed its first flight in November 2023, with a nine-passenger piloted production variant hoped to enter service in 2028.
