The Future of Advanced Air Mobility

Electra was formed in early 2020 after founder John Langford left his previous company Aurora Flight Sciences, which he founded in 1989 and subsequently sold to Boeing. In November 2020, he confirmed that his growing team is working on a sub-scale technology demonstrator for a planned, but as-yet-unnamed, hybrid-electric short-takeoff, and landing aircraft. The aim is to begin tests flights with this model as a first step to achieving type certification with a production aircraft before the end of 2026. 

Initially, the company is looking to produce a six-seat aircraft with a payload (for cargo-carrying purposes) of around one metric tonne (2,200 pounds). Initial financial support has come from investors close to the company founders and it has also completed a seed round with an undisclosed investor. The company says it has enough capital to complete flight testing with the technology demonstrator. 

Early concept drawings show a fairly conventional design with a high-wing and fixed landing gear reminiscent of numerous general aviation aircraft. On the wing, there are eight sets of propellers each of which is to be driven by an electric motor. The location of the conventional engine has yet to be determined, with Langford describing it as an auxiliary power unit. The design uses Electra's "blown lift" technology to blow air over the span of the wing and its flaps, allowing for takeoff and landing speeds as low as 30 mph.

Electra believes that it will deliver a more cost-effective aircraft by focusing on STOL performance that far exceeds current expectations. It believes the aircraft will be able to takeoff and land in no more than around 300 feet, and possibly as little as 100 feet. It is also intended that the aircraft would be able to operate from so-called "unimproved fields" and so would not require officially designated runways. This should expand the scope for it to be used in rural areas for missions that could include last-mile delivery services. 

In late October 2020, supersonic aircraft developer Aerion announced a partnership with Electra. This envisages the Electra STOL aircraft being used to carry passengers to and from long-haul supersonic flights.

Electra planned to complete the preliminary design of its eSTOL aircraft in December 2020. A forefront partner in this equation is Blue Force Technologies, which currently leads the design and manufacturing of the airframe. The eSTOL company hopes to see a maiden flight with a technology demonstrator before the end of 2021, with type certification still on track for 2026.

In June 2021, the company announced that it has completed the definition of the aircraft it intends to bring to market. With the specifications adjusted, Electra will now offer prospective customers an aircraft that can carry up to seven passengers with a single pilot on board. It is projecting range of up to 500 miles and speeds of up to 200 mph.

In July 2021, NASA awarded Electra a Small Business Technology Transfer contract to support join work with the University of Southern California on its "blown lift" technology.

In August 2021, Electra announced the appointment of Randy Griffith as director of certification and confirmed that he has started working with the FAA's Center for Emerging Concepts and Innovation and the agency's Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office to define the certification path for the eSTOL design. The company says certification will be under 14 CFR Part 23 rules, covering multi-engine, Level 3, low-speed (below 250 knots). It aims to complete the process in 2026, with the next key step being to start flight testing a full-scale demonstrator aircraft in 2022.

In early September 2021, Electra partnered with Melbourne-based ground infrastructure developer Skyportz to collaborate to further urban and regional passenger and freight operations in Australia. Electra targets Australia’s urban environment as a potentially successful market for the Electra eSTOL.

In December 2021, 100 of Electra’s eSTOL aircraft were ordered by on-demand air mobility start-up Flyv and in February 2022 Yugo announced plans to incorporate 12 of Electra’s eSTOL design into its partner operators in the Asia-Pacific region.

In March 2022, Electra and MIT gain the backing of the U.S. Air Force to continue their development of its eSTOL aircraft. Their collaboration will contribute towards their development of enhanced precision flight control systems.

Timeline

Projected

type certification granted

Type certification and service entry
Missed Projection

test flight

Test flight of a full-scale technology demonstrator
Missed Projection

test flight

Test flights of sub-scale technology demonstrator

Outlook

Our objective assessment of this program’s probable success.

FutureFlight assesses the probability of success for a new aircraft program by considering the following criteria:

  • Total investment funds available in proportion to the anticipated cost of getting an aircraft certified and in service
  • A company’s in-house capability (in terms of numbers of engineers, technical staff, and customer support teams)
  • The past experience of the company and its senior leadership in developing aircraft
  • The caliber and past experience of key program partners
  • Whether key aircraft systems have been selected and are available for use
  • Whether the preliminary design review has been completed
  • Whether the design for the full-scale prototype has been completed
  • Whether the type certification process has been formally initiated with an appropriate regulator
  • Whether the company has achieved a first flight with a full-scale prototype
  • The number of hours logged in a flight test program
  • Whether type certification has been achieved
  • The number of orders and commitment received for the aircraft
  • Whether the company has adequate facilities to begin series production of the aircraft
Our Methodology

Electra.aero has a strong leadership pedigree in the stellar team put together by unmanned aircraft pioneer John Langford, mainly drawn from the aeronautical engineering department of his alma mater, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Initial funding for its plan to develop a hybrid STOL aircraft is mainly based on "friends and families" investments, as well as some seed capital from an undisclosed investor. The company says this is sufficient to begin flight testing with a sub-scale technology demonstrator during 2021. Further fundraising will be required to bring the aircraft to market, as planned, during 2026.

The design concept for the as-yet-unnamed aircraft is based on maximizing the potential for short-take off and landing capability. Langford told FutureFlight the aircraft will be able to operate from just 100 to 300 feet, while delivering significantly more flexible performance compared with eVTOL aircraft with full-vertical capability. The relatively conservative design would appear to be low-risk from a certification perspective.

The company's June 2021 announcement that it is starting to offered an improved and refined design to prospective operators gave the program new momentum. Still to be confirmed are the key program partners needed to get the aircraft into commercial service, and how the work will be funded through to the production phase.

However, the appointment of an experienced director of certification is a significant step that has begun Electra's full engagement with the FAA in the certification process. 

Electra eSTOL Models

Electra eSTOL Specifications

local stol Fixed Wing

Performance

  • Passenger Capacity
    7
  • Range
    500 mi
  • Cruise Speed
    n/a
  • Powerplant Type
    propeller
  • Power Source
    hybrid_fe
  • Endurance
    n/a
  • Max Altitude
    n/a
  • Takeoff Distance
    150 ft
  • Landing Distance
    150 ft
  • Empty Weight
    n/a
  • MGTOW
    n/a
  • Payload Weight
    n/a

Dimensions

  • Length
    n/a
  • Width
    n/a
  • Height
    n/a
  • Wingspan
    n/a

Electra is developing a hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft that will be able to carry a pilot and up to seven passengers on routes of up to around 500 miles. The fixed-wing design will feature a 150 kW turbogenerator to power eight electric motors and also recharge onboard batteries. The unnamed model is also expected to see service in middle-mile cargo delivery operations. The aircraft, which is targetted to achieve type certification in 2026, should be able to land and takeoff from just 150 feet of runway.

Key Personnel

John Langford is president and CEO of Aurora Flight Sciences.
John Langford

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Founder

John Hansman

Board Member

Mark Drela

Board Member

Oliver Masefield
Oliver Masefield

Senior Manager

Marty Bradley
Marty Bradley

Board Member

Christopher Courtin
Christopher Courtin

Senior Manager

Randy Griffith
Randy Griffith

Program Director