Photo: Electra
The eSTOL (electric ultra-short takeoff and landing) developed by the Northern Virginia-based aerospace company Electra is proving to have huge success in the global market, with more than 2,000 units pre-sold so far.
In the emerging eVTOL industry, this eSTOL looks like it's taking center stage, and it's easy to see why. The eSTOL configuration and hybrid-electric propulsion offer multiple advantages compared to standard eVTOLs.
The extended range, for instance, allows this aircraft to expand its operations across several domains, from regional tourism to emergency medical missions. It also doesn't require dedicated electric chargers due to its in-flight battery charging capabilities. This not only simplifies future commercial operations but also makes the aircraft compatible with remote areas that lack infrastructure.
As an eSTOL, Electra's aircraft only needs an area of 150 feet (45.7 meters) to take off and land. This is a real game-changer when it comes to infrastructure because it opens up access to areas that would normally be incompatible with flight, such as barges, converted parking lots, or landing strips that are simply very short.
You might think that these capabilities come at the cost of payload. Yet, the Electra eSTOL is designed to safely and comfortably carry up to nine passengers (much more than standard eVTOLs) or cargo of up to 2,500 lbs (1,133 kg).
Performance-wise, this hybrid-electric aircraft promises a cruising speed of 175 knots (324 kph) and an impressive range of up to 500 miles (804 km), even in challenging weather conditions. As a fixed-wing, piloted aircraft, this eSTOL is a high-performance and high-capacity alternative to both electric air taxis and regional aircraft.
By the end of 2021, Electra had secured pre-orders worth $500 million for its hybrid eSTOL. In just two years, the value grew to a whopping $8 billion. The company's order book went from 150 to more than 2,000 units in record time. Since the beginning, its customer base has gone far beyond the US borders.
One of the most recent customers, JetSetGo, is a pioneering aviation operator in India that is betting on alternative aircraft. In the US, Charm Aviation will operate the Electra eSTOL for tourist flights in the greater Manhattan area. This is just one of the many helicopter operators that are starting to add electric aircraft to their conventional fleets.
Last fall, Electra's technology demonstrator known as the Goldfinch (a two-seat hybrid-electric prototype) nailed what was claimed to be the first flight of a hybrid-electric STOL. It was a 23-minute flight that took place in Virginia, during which the Goldfinch reached as high as 3,200 feet (975 meters) and used its hybrid-electric propulsion system to cover 30 miles (482 km).
Electra's winning combination of STOL capabilities and hybrid-electric propulsion also got the attention of NASA, the US Air Force, and Lockheed Martin.
The extended range, for instance, allows this aircraft to expand its operations across several domains, from regional tourism to emergency medical missions. It also doesn't require dedicated electric chargers due to its in-flight battery charging capabilities. This not only simplifies future commercial operations but also makes the aircraft compatible with remote areas that lack infrastructure.
As an eSTOL, Electra's aircraft only needs an area of 150 feet (45.7 meters) to take off and land. This is a real game-changer when it comes to infrastructure because it opens up access to areas that would normally be incompatible with flight, such as barges, converted parking lots, or landing strips that are simply very short.
You might think that these capabilities come at the cost of payload. Yet, the Electra eSTOL is designed to safely and comfortably carry up to nine passengers (much more than standard eVTOLs) or cargo of up to 2,500 lbs (1,133 kg).
Performance-wise, this hybrid-electric aircraft promises a cruising speed of 175 knots (324 kph) and an impressive range of up to 500 miles (804 km), even in challenging weather conditions. As a fixed-wing, piloted aircraft, this eSTOL is a high-performance and high-capacity alternative to both electric air taxis and regional aircraft.
By the end of 2021, Electra had secured pre-orders worth $500 million for its hybrid eSTOL. In just two years, the value grew to a whopping $8 billion. The company's order book went from 150 to more than 2,000 units in record time. Since the beginning, its customer base has gone far beyond the US borders.
One of the most recent customers, JetSetGo, is a pioneering aviation operator in India that is betting on alternative aircraft. In the US, Charm Aviation will operate the Electra eSTOL for tourist flights in the greater Manhattan area. This is just one of the many helicopter operators that are starting to add electric aircraft to their conventional fleets.
Last fall, Electra's technology demonstrator known as the Goldfinch (a two-seat hybrid-electric prototype) nailed what was claimed to be the first flight of a hybrid-electric STOL. It was a 23-minute flight that took place in Virginia, during which the Goldfinch reached as high as 3,200 feet (975 meters) and used its hybrid-electric propulsion system to cover 30 miles (482 km).
Electra's winning combination of STOL capabilities and hybrid-electric propulsion also got the attention of NASA, the US Air Force, and Lockheed Martin.
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