Electra and Surf Air Mobility Complete First Commercial Demonstrations of Ultra Short Aircraft at Virginia Tech
Electra and Surf Air Mobility (NYSE: SRFM) have successfully completed the first public demonstrations of Ultra Short aircraft capabilities at Virginia Tech. The demonstrations showcased aircraft takeoffs and landings in spaces as small as 150 feet, utilizing Electra's EL2 technology demonstrator.
The tests were conducted at various Virginia Tech locations, including a 300-foot paved surface, an access road, and a grass field. Electra's flagship EL9 nine-passenger aircraft, set to enter service in 2029, will feature similar capabilities. The aircraft has garnered over 2,200 pre-orders from more than 60 operators worldwide.
The partnership leverages Surf Air Mobility's operational experience and proprietary SurfOS™ software to scale the deployment of next-generation electrified aircraft. The EL9 will operate at one-third the cost of helicopters or eVTOLs and be 100 times quieter, enabling Direct Aviation services for routes between 50 to 300 nautical miles.
Electra e Surf Air Mobility (NYSE: SRFM) hanno completato con successo le prime dimostrazioni pubbliche delle capacità di decollo e atterraggio ultra-corti presso Virginia Tech. Le dimostrazioni hanno mostrato decolli e atterraggi in spazi ristretti fino a 150 piedi, utilizzando il dimostratore tecnologico EL2.
I test si sono svolti in varie aree del campus di Virginia Tech, inclusa una superficie asfaltata di 300 piedi, una strada di accesso e un campo in erba. L'aeromobile di punta di Electra, il EL9 da nove passeggeri, che entrerà in servizio nel 2029, avrà capacità simili. L'aeromobile ha raccolto oltre 2.200 prenotazioni da più di 60 operatori in tutto il mondo.
La partnership sfrutta l'esperienza operativa di Surf Air Mobility e il suo software proprietario SurfOS™ per scalare la diffusione di aeromobili elettrificati di nuova generazione. L'EL9 opererà con un terzo del costo di elicotteri o eVTOL ed sarà 100 volte più silenzioso, consentendo servizi di aviazione diretta per rotte tra le 50 e le 300 miglia nautiche.
Electra y Surf Air Mobility (NYSE: SRFM) han completado con éxito las primeras demostraciones públicas de las capacidades de despegue y aterrizaje ultracortos en Virginia Tech. Las demostraciones mostraron despegues y aterrizajes en espacios de tan solo 150 pies, utilizando el demostrador tecnológico EL2.
Las pruebas se realizaron en varias ubicaciones de Virginia Tech, incluida una superficie pavimentada de 300 pies, una vía de acceso y un campo de hierba. El avión insignia de Electra, el EL9 de nueve pasajeros, que entrará en servicio en 2029, contará con capacidades similares. El avión ha recibido más de 2.200 pedidos anticipados de más de 60 operadores en todo el mundo.
La asociación aprovecha la experiencia operativa de Surf Air Mobility y su software propietario SurfOS™ para escalar el despliegue de aeronaves electrificadas de próxima generación. El EL9 operará a un tercio del coste de helicópteros o eVTOL y será 100 veces más silencioso, permitiendo servicios de aviación directa para rutas de entre 50 y 300 millas náuticas.
Electra와 Surf Air Mobility (NYSE: SRFM)는 버지니아 공대(Virginia Tech)에서 초단거리 항공기 이착륙 성능에 대한 첫 공개 시연을 성공적으로 마쳤습니다. 시연에서는 EL2 기술 시연기를 사용해 약 150피트의 좁은 공간에서 이착륙을 선보였습니다.
테스트는 버지니아 공대의 여러 장소에서 이루어졌으며, 300피트의 포장면, 진입로, 잔디밭 등이 포함되었습니다. Electra의 주력 기종인 9인승 EL9은 2029년에 서비스에 들어가며 유사한 성능을 갖출 예정입니다. 이 항공기는 전 세계 60여 개 운영사로부터 2,200건 이상의 사전 주문을 확보했습니다.
이 파트너십은 Surf Air Mobility의 운용 경험과 독점 소프트웨어 SurfOS™를 활용해 차세대 전동 항공기의 배치를 확대합니다. EL9은 헬리콥터나 eVTOL의 3분의 1 비용으로 운항할 수 있고 소음은 100배 더 적어 50~300해리 구간의 직항 항공 서비스를 가능하게 합니다.
Electra et Surf Air Mobility (NYSE: SRFM) ont réalisé avec succès les premières démonstrations publiques des capacités d'appareils à décollage et atterrissage ultra-courts à Virginia Tech. Les démonstrations ont montré des décollages et atterrissages dans des espaces aussi réduits que 150 pieds, en utilisant le démonstrateur technologique EL2.
Les essais ont été menés à plusieurs endroits de Virginia Tech, notamment une surface pavée de 300 pieds, une voie d'accès et un champ herbeux. L'appareil phare d'Electra, le EL9 neuf passagers, qui devrait entrer en service en 2029, offrira des capacités similaires. L'appareil a reçu plus de 2 200 précommandes de plus de 60 opérateurs dans le monde.
Le partenariat s'appuie sur l'expérience opérationnelle de Surf Air Mobility et son logiciel propriétaire SurfOS™ pour accélérer le déploiement des avions électrifiés de nouvelle génération. L'EL9 fonctionnera à un tiers du coût des hélicoptères ou des eVTOL et sera 100 fois plus silencieux, permettant des services d'aviation directe pour des trajets entre 50 et 300 milles nautiques.
Electra und Surf Air Mobility (NYSE: SRFM) haben an der Virginia Tech die ersten öffentlichen Demonstrationen der Ultrakurz-Start- und -Lande-Fähigkeiten erfolgreich abgeschlossen. Die Vorführungen zeigten Starts und Landungen in Bereichen von nur 150 Fuß, unter Verwendung des EL2-Technologie-Demonstrators von Electra.
Die Tests fanden an verschiedenen Orten der Virginia Tech statt, darunter eine 300 Fuß lange befestigte Fläche, eine Zufahrtsstraße und ein Grasfeld. Electras Flaggschiff, das EL9 für neun Passagiere, das 2029 in Dienst gestellt werden soll, wird ähnliche Fähigkeiten besitzen. Das Flugzeug hat über 2.200 Vorbestellungen von mehr als 60 Betreibern weltweit erhalten.
Die Partnerschaft nutzt die operative Erfahrung von Surf Air Mobility und die firmeneigene Software SurfOS™, um die Einführung elektrifizierter Flugzeuge der nächsten Generation zu skalieren. Das EL9 wird zu einem Drittel der Kosten von Hubschraubern oder eVTOLs operieren und 100-mal leiser sein, wodurch Direktflugdienste für Strecken zwischen 50 und 300 Seemeilen möglich werden.
- None.
- Commercial service not starting until 2029
- Currently only in demonstration phase with technology demonstrator
Insights
Electra's successful Ultra Short aircraft demos with Surf Air show transformative regional aviation potential, with commercial implementation targeted for 2029.
The successful demonstration of Electra's Ultra Short takeoff and landing capabilities represents a significant technological milestone in regional aviation. The aircraft demonstrated the ability to operate in spaces as small as 150 feet - approximately 1/40th the length of a typical commercial runway. This breakthrough combines two key technologies: blown lift (where propellers direct airflow over wings to generate lift at lower speeds) and hybrid-electric propulsion.
What's technically impressive is how these demonstrations occurred in non-traditional aviation environments, including a UAS testing surface, an access road, and even a grass field. This validates the technology's versatility across various surfaces without requiring specialized infrastructure.
From a commercialization perspective, the partnership with
The business case centers on creating a new market category called "Direct Aviation" - essentially bringing air travel closer to origin/destination points by utilizing thousands of small access points rather than relying on major airports. This addresses a gap in regional transportation for routes between 50-300 nautical miles that are inefficient for both traditional aviation and ground transportation.
While promising, several challenges remain before the 2029 commercial service target. The demonstration used the EL2 technology demonstrator, not the final 9-passenger EL9 commercial version. The regulatory pathway for certification remains complex, and building out a network of Ultra Short Access Points will require significant coordination with local authorities.
Nevertheless, with 2,200+ pre-orders from 60+ operators, market demand appears strong. The claimed operational cost at one-third that of helicopters/eVTOLs while being 100 times quieter would position this technology competitively in the regional mobility market if these specifications hold through final development.
A series of "breathtakingly short" takeoffs and landings showcase how Electra's hybrid-electric aircraft will unlock the new era of Direct Aviation
Surf Air Mobility will leverage its operational scale and proprietary SurfOS™ software for next-generation electrified aircraft
The demos – captured as part of a new video series – highlight how blown lift and hybrid-electric propulsion together enable takeoffs and landings in 150 feet or less at Ultra Short Access Points connected to novel airstrips, austere environments, or campus settings.
These groundbreaking capabilities accelerate Electra's bold vision for advanced air mobility via Direct Aviation, opening the door to thousands of potential new routes that can be flown once its flagship EL9 Ultra Short aircraft reaches commercial service in 2029.
The demonstrations took place at several locations at Virginia Tech, including:
- A 300-foot by 75-foot paved surface used for takeoff and landing of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
- An access road on a closed test-bed campus research facility managed by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
- A grass field at The Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center
Electra's EL2 technology demonstrator completed the flights. Ultimately, Electra's flagship EL9 nine-passenger aircraft will enter service with similar capabilities.
Surf Air Mobility, via its airline subbrands Southern Airways and Mokulele Airlines, have flown millions of passengers over millions of miles since inception. With Surf Air Mobility's decade of operational experience, existing nationwide commuter scheduled flight network, and proprietary SurfOS software, Surf Air Mobility is creating a platform to enable the launch of new electrified aircraft. Once certified, Electra's EL9 Ultra Short aircraft has the potential to leverage Surf Air Mobility's operations and software platform to bring the aircraft technology to market at scale.
"These demonstrations showcased breathtakingly short takeoffs and landings and pinpoint landing capabilities with the power to transform aviation as we know it," said Marc Allen, CEO of Electra. "It's a great credit to our amazing teammates and partners that we are now demonstrating these capabilities in real world, non-airport environments."
"What stood out to us immediately was the operational flexibility that the EL9 will enable," said Louis Saint-Cyr, COO and President of Hawai'i Operations. "The aircraft will be faster to turn around, less expensive to operate, and easier to deploy. These demonstration flights were a critical step forward in Electra's journey to commercialization and will solve real pain points with regional air mobility. We're excited to work with Electra to leverage our platform to help bring this novel technology to market at scale."
"What Electra demonstrated at Virginia Tech was a first glimpse of how air travel will work in the near future," said Eric Paterson, executive director of the Virginia Tech National Security Institute. "It was a practical demonstration of how the EL9 can integrate into everyday environments, proving it works where it needs to."
What is Direct Aviation?
Direct Aviation brings air travel closer to home, work, and play. Instead of relying on a few large, congested airport hubs, Direct Aviation uses hundreds of thousands of smaller, more accessible locations. These Ultra Short Access Points can be as small as soccer fields and include underutilized airport facilities, novel air strips, or dedicated spaces near campuses or commercial areas.
Enabled by Electra's Ultra Short technology, Direct Aviation removes the chokepoints of traditional aviation that limit access and add time on both ends of the journey due to the reliance on a handful of major airports. This model replaces long, congested drives, packed terminals, and underutilized runways with direct, efficient flights that cater to today's travel needs.
A newly released study by researchers from Georgia Tech analyzed regional travel demand and patterns in the
With Electra's EL9 aircraft, these flights become faster, quieter, and more cost-effective. The aircraft operates at one-third the cost of a helicopter or eVTOL and is 100 times quieter. It integrates with existing aviation systems and is ready to deploy where demand already exists. With over 2,200 pre-orders from more than 60 operators worldwide, the EL9 is already one of the most in-demand aircraft in the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector.
In the coming months, Electra will share use cases, sample routes, and operator partnerships that further showcase how the Ultra Short unlocks this new era of Direct Aviation.
For more information, visit https://www.electra.aero.
About Electra
Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra) is an advanced aerospace company building hybrid-electric Ultra Short airplanes that achieve never-before seen performance advantages to fly people and cargo seamlessly without airports, emissions, or noise. With the EL9 Ultra Short, Electra is pioneering Direct Aviation, the next level of connectivity that brings air travel closer to where we live, work, and play. Electra's Ultra Short technology delivers 2.5x the payload and 10x longer range with
Electra's team includes some of the most respected and successful entrepreneurs and engineers in novel aircraft design, with over 40 prior aircraft successfully developed and/or certified. Lockheed Martin Ventures, Honeywell, and Safran are among Electra's strategic investors along with Prysm Capital, Statkraft Ventures (
About Surf Air Mobility
Surf Air Mobility is a
Electra Media Contact:
media@electra.aero
Surf Air Mobility Media Contact:
press@surfair.com
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SOURCE Electra.aero
FAQ
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