Electra Plans $850M Ohio Factory for Its Ultra-Short Hybrid Plane
The maker of the nine-seat EL9 would get its first dedicated production base, in a state that is fast becoming an advanced air mobility hub.
July 21, 2026 – 3:14 pm
Electra, based in Manassas, Virginia, plans to invest around $850 million to build a factory in Ohio, marking a significant shift from expanding engineering headcount to manufacturing. Currently, the company employs approximately 90 people split between Virginia and a research site in Switzerland.
The EL9 is an "ultra short" aircraft or eSTOL, using eight electric propellers along the wing to generate lift at low speed without vertical takeoff. This allows for short field operations as small as 300 by 100 feet, compared to a tenth of a conventional runway.
Power comes from a hybrid-electric system featuring a turbine-driven generator that keeps four battery packs topped up in flight, overcoming the weight constraints of all-electric designs. Safran agreed to develop and produce its TG600 turbogenerator for the aircraft, while Evolito supplies electric motors.
At approximately 55 decibels on the ground, Electra argues the EL9 is quiet enough for operation near residential areas. The company envisions hybrid-electric aircraft expanding US regional air travel tenfold, with eventual domestic demand reaching some 16,000 such aircraft.
Backers include Lockheed Martin Ventures, Honeywell, Safran, Prysm Capital, and Statkraft Ventures. In 2025, Electra raised $115 million in a Series B round, boasting around 2,200 letters of intent from over 50 operators worth close to $9 billion. Customers include Bristow Group, JSX, Blade India, Surf Air, and even interest from NASA and the US military branches.
While order books are strong on paper, converting them into paying customers has proven challenging across the sector.