Photo: Electra
This fall season, we saw several industry firsts in the US related to the emerging AAM (Advanced Air Mobility). The latest one to take us a step closer to zero-emission air travel is what claims to be the first hybrid-electric flight of an eSTOL (electric ultra-short takeoff and landing).
Picture a low-emission aircraft that could comfortably carry up to nine passengers across medium distances, as fast as conventional airplanes and quieter than helicopters. This is the ultimate goal for Electra Aero, an air mobility company based in Northern Virginia. Its flagship nine-seat aircraft, targeted for both commercial and military operations, will be able to fly at 200 mph (321 kph), cover 500 miles (804 km), and only require 150 feet (45.7 meters) for takeoff and landing.
A prototype of the full-scale pre-production eSTOL will be developed with funds of up to $85 million as part of USAF's AFWERX Agility Prime program.
In the meantime, the startup has reached a major milestone with its eSTOL technology demonstrator. This is a two-seat hybrid-electric aircraft named the EL-2 Goldfinch. The aircraft itself is pioneering – according to Electra, it's the only blown-lift aircraft in the world combining distributed electric propulsion with a hybrid-electric propulsion system. This month, the Goldfinch went even further and completed the first flight of a hybrid-electric STOL.
The trailblazing flight took place recently in Virginia when the Goldfinch aircraft got as high as 3,200 feet (975 meters) and traveled for approximately 30 miles (482 km) using its hybrid-electric propulsion. Prior to that, the Electric demonstrator had completed a successful all-electric flight test. This time, it was the first hybrid-electric flight, and it lasted for 23 minutes.
The man who was in the Goldfinch's cockpit for both of these pioneering flights is Cody Allee, a pilot from the Manassas Regional Airport in Virginia.
This type of STOL has two main benefits. As its name suggests, it allows ultra-short landings and takeoffs while also being able to recharge in flight thanks to the hybrid-electric propulsion. This means it doesn't depend on ground-based charging stations like eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing). At the same time, it boasts a greater range that allows medium-distance travel while also decreasing noise levels "dramatically" compared to standard airplanes and choppers.
The North Virginia-based startup has already secured an impressive customer base. At the moment, it claims to have pre-orders from more than 30 customers, totaling around $6 billion. Last month, Electra announced the sale of its 1,000th aircraft and has now reached 1,700 sold units.
As exciting as Electra's hybrid-electric aircraft sounds, there's still a long road ahead. The company expects to get its product certified by the FAA (the Federal Aviation Administration) and ready for commercial service in 2028.
A prototype of the full-scale pre-production eSTOL will be developed with funds of up to $85 million as part of USAF's AFWERX Agility Prime program.
In the meantime, the startup has reached a major milestone with its eSTOL technology demonstrator. This is a two-seat hybrid-electric aircraft named the EL-2 Goldfinch. The aircraft itself is pioneering – according to Electra, it's the only blown-lift aircraft in the world combining distributed electric propulsion with a hybrid-electric propulsion system. This month, the Goldfinch went even further and completed the first flight of a hybrid-electric STOL.
The trailblazing flight took place recently in Virginia when the Goldfinch aircraft got as high as 3,200 feet (975 meters) and traveled for approximately 30 miles (482 km) using its hybrid-electric propulsion. Prior to that, the Electric demonstrator had completed a successful all-electric flight test. This time, it was the first hybrid-electric flight, and it lasted for 23 minutes.
The man who was in the Goldfinch's cockpit for both of these pioneering flights is Cody Allee, a pilot from the Manassas Regional Airport in Virginia.
This type of STOL has two main benefits. As its name suggests, it allows ultra-short landings and takeoffs while also being able to recharge in flight thanks to the hybrid-electric propulsion. This means it doesn't depend on ground-based charging stations like eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing). At the same time, it boasts a greater range that allows medium-distance travel while also decreasing noise levels "dramatically" compared to standard airplanes and choppers.
The North Virginia-based startup has already secured an impressive customer base. At the moment, it claims to have pre-orders from more than 30 customers, totaling around $6 billion. Last month, Electra announced the sale of its 1,000th aircraft and has now reached 1,700 sold units.
As exciting as Electra's hybrid-electric aircraft sounds, there's still a long road ahead. The company expects to get its product certified by the FAA (the Federal Aviation Administration) and ready for commercial service in 2028.
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