Electra Aero, a maker of hybrid electric short takeoff and landing aircraft, says it has received some 2,200 preorders, worth about $9 billion for its new EL9 Ultra Short hybrid electric aircraft.
The aircraft manufacturer’s mission statement reads that the company was founded to “provide affordable air travel without airports, emissions or noise.”
The Ultra Short integrates blown lift and hybrid electric propulsion to take off and land in just 150 feet (46 m) of runway or the equivalent. It has eight electric props along the leading edge of the wings, as well as large flaps hanging from the trailing edges. The combination allows the aircraft to exploit the blown lift aerodynamic effect sufficiently to enable a rotation speed of just 35 mph (56 km/h).
The aircraft’s ability to land on unpaved surfaces also makes it potentially useful for companies that have traditionally used off-highway vehicles that travel on land, such as construction and mining firms, enabling them to bring construction supplies to distant sites by air.
Once in service, the Ultra Short will be able to accommodate a pilot and nine passengers with luggage or 3,000 lbs (1,361 kg) of cargo. The company says it will have a cruising speed of 200 mph (322 km/h) and a range of 1,100 nautical miles (1,266 miles or 2,037 km). The company also claims that the aircraft will be capable of in-flight battery recharging.
Source: Electra Aero