Electra.aero Unveils Hybrid-Electric STOL Demonstrator

The test vehicle aims to help prove the company’s blown-lift technology.

Monday, June 12, 2023 at 05:51 PM ET

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The Electra Aero’s technology demonstrator, named “Goldfinch,” was rolled out at an event at the company’s hangar at the Manassas Regional Airport in Virginia. [Credit: Stephen Yeates]

Key Takeaways:

Electra.aero unveiled its eSTOL (electric short takeoff and landing) demonstrator, the first piloted aircraft to use blown-lift technology with distributed electrical propulsion for short takeoffs and landings.
The two-seat hybrid-electric aircraft will begin flight testing this summer, leading to a planned nine-seat production model with testing in 2025.
The company anticipates the final eSTOL version will offer significantly increased payload and range, along with 70% lower operating costs compared to vertical takeoff alternatives.
Electra aims for 2028 FAA Part 23 type certification and has secured substantial U.S. Air Force funding, with a goal to combine airplane and rotorcraft capabilities.

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At a hangar on the Manassas Regional Airport (KHEF), in Virginia, Electra.aero has been quietly working at its core mission: to prove the application of blown-lift technology in a piloted aircraft.

Electra.aero unveiled the eSTOL (electric short takeoff and landing) demonstrator at a special ceremony at 5 p.m. EDT Monday to present the concept and answer questions about both the technology and vision for its future use. According to the company, the aircraft represents the first use of blown lift using distributed electrical propulsion, allowing the airplane to to take off and land in short distances.