Finland to Study Hybrid-Electric ‘Ultra Short’ Aircraft

Manufacturer is also partnered with Signature Aviation to develop infrastructure for its ‘ultra short’ EL9.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 12:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Compact access points at rooftops, parking lots, fields, barges, malls, casinos, or ski resorts could be served by Electra’s EL9, designed for takeoffs and landings with only 150 feet. [Credit: Electra]

Key Takeaways:

Electra, developer of hybrid-electric "ultra short" aircraft, is partnering with the city of Helsinki and Haaga-Helia University to study the infrastructure and demand for "direct aviation" using non-airport access points.
The study will focus on the Helsinki-Tallinn route across the Gulf of Finland, evaluating the design, operating economics, and regulations for EL9 aircraft, which require only a 150-foot ground roll for takeoff and landing.
This initiative aims to significantly cut regional travel times and costs by enabling air service from urban locations, offering an alternative to existing inefficient ferry or conventional flight options.

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Hybrid-electric “ultra short” aircraft developer Electra in July partnered with FBO Signature Aviation to explore “access points” for its flagship EL9, which is designed for takeoff and landing with only 150 feet of ground roll. Now, the manufacturer is working with Finland’s capital to study the same infrastructure it plans to deploy across the U.S.

According to Electra, EL9 access points could be installed at nonairport locations, including rooftops, parking lots, fields, barges, malls, casinos, or ski resorts. Working with the city of Helsinki and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, the company plans to evaluate the design of that infrastructure as well as the potential spike in demand that the EL9 could create.