A hybrid-electric aviation startup called Electra announced Tuesday that it plans to pour $850 million into building a new manufacturing facility in Springfield, Ohio, where it will produce its nine-passenger hybrid-electric plane.
The announcement came with backing from major industry players including Honeywell, Safran, and Lockheed Martin Ventures. Company officials say the investment is designed to move their flagship aircraft, the EL9 Ultra Short, out of the development stage and into full-scale commercial production, while generating 1,975 new jobs in the process.
The EL9 is a fixed-wing aircraft that relies on hybrid-electric propulsion technology, allowing it to take off and land in as little as 150 feet of runway space. Electra envisions the plane serving point-to-point routes of up to 250 miles — distances that travelers might otherwise cover by car. The company is pitching a new category of air travel it calls “Direct Aviation,” which would use unconventional access points such as parking lots, barges, and sports fields.
Electra is currently seeking certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. The company expects to conduct its first flight in late 2027 or 2028. Once the initial phase of the Ohio facility is fully operational, it is expected to have the capacity to produce up to 400 aircraft per year.
