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Electra Completes Grass Field Takeoffs With Less Than 300 Feet

The manufacturer’s hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) design goes airborne at neighborhood driving speeds through the use of blown lift propulsion.

Friday, July 19, 2024 at 12:41 PM ET

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Electra’s hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) demonstrator lifts off from a grassy field. [Courtesy: Electra]

Key Takeaways:

Electra's EL-2 Goldfinch hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft successfully demonstrated its ability to take off from a small grassy field, proving its runway-independent capabilities.
The aircraft incorporates unique features like in-flight battery charging, quiet operation (55 decibels), and "blown lift propulsion" for extremely short takeoffs.
Electra has secured multi-million dollar contracts with the U.S. military (Air Force, Army, Navy) and boasts over 2,000 preorders from commercial customers for its eSTOL technology.
The company aims for FAA certification of its full-scale, nine-passenger eSTOL model by 2028, offering a cost-effective, low-noise alternative to traditional aviation.

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Electra, the developer of a hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft capable of getting airborne from soccer field-sized spaces, this week completed a set of successful test flights—taking off from a field.

The manufacturer’s EL-2 Goldfinch, which first flew in May, got its first off-runway action when it lifted off from a grassy area smaller than 300 feet near a company facility in Manassas, Virginia.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.