Electra develops hybrid-electric Ultra Short aircraft, with the nine-passenger EL9 integrating blown lift technology and hybrid-electric propulsion. The EL9 can take off and land in 150 feet, carry up to 3,000 pounds of payload, and has a range of up to 1,100 nautical miles with in-flight battery recharging. Electra positions the aircraft for dual commercial and defense use, emphasizing quiet operation, lower operating costs versus helicopters and eVTOLs, and the ability to operate from unimproved surfaces. The company reports over 2,200 pre-orders valued at more than $10 billion and has won 20+ SBIR contracts from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy and NASA, including a Strategic Funding Increase contract with the U.S. Air Force. Electra has grown to roughly 80 employees and markets the EL9 as the flagship of a future family of hybrid-electric aircraft aimed at enabling "Direct Aviation." The near-term plan centers on moving the EL9 into pre-production and certification. Electra.aero builds clean, hybrid-electric ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft intended to carry passengers and cargo. Led by founder and CEO John S. Langford, the company unveiled the EL-2 Goldfinch two-seat technology demonstrator in June 2023. Its planned production eSTOL is designed to carry nine passengers up to 500 miles as a sustainable alternative to regional driving. The company intends to use new funding to further develop its hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft and advance flight testing. Electra currently holds over 1,200 aircraft pre-orders from more than 30 global customers, including established operators and new entrants. The company will begin flight testing the two-seat technology demonstrator later this summer. Electra.aero builds hybrid-electric ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft using patent-pending distributed electric propulsion and blown lift technology. Its designs aim to operate from spaces as small as 300x100 feet and use a small turbine-powered generator to recharge batteries in flight, reducing the need for ground charging infrastructure. Electra is designing aircraft that can carry up to 1,800 pounds of cargo or 7–9 passengers for up to 500 miles, targeting missions from intracity on-demand flights to medical and cargo transport. The company positions its technology as quieter, more environmentally friendly, and lower cost to operate than many vertical takeoff alternatives, and cites support from NASA and the U.S. Air Force Agility Prime program. Electra plans to begin flight testing a full-scale hybrid eSTOL technology demonstrator later in the year, and the company announced strategic investment from Lockheed Martin Ventures to support that work.

Total raised

$115M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Apr 2025