Electra’s Ultra Short aircraft has the capability to take off and land in just 150 feet
Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra) made history earlier this month as the first hybrid-electric Ultra Short aircraft successfully completed helicopter-like take-offs and landings at the Watertown International Airport. The Electra EL2 Ultra Short takeoff and landing technology demonstrator operated within just a 150-foot section of pavement adjacent to the airport’s main runway for these arrivals and departures.
The EL2 aircraft has been undergoing successful flight tests since 2023. Its performance at the non-towered Watertown International Airport highlighted the aircraft’s ability to operate safely and efficiently on Taxiway Delta from spaces far smaller than conventional runways.
The EL2 Ultra Short’s innovative “blown lift” design, featuring distributed electric propulsion and eight electric motors mounted on the wings, enables ultra-short take-off and landing capabilities in as short as 150 feet, requiring significantly smaller operating spaces than conventional aircraft. The aircraft’s hybrid-electric propulsion system uses a turbo generator to charge its batteries in flight, providing extended range without the need for ground charging infrastructure. This technology also contributes to a significantly lower noise profile.
Data gathered from the EL2 tests will be instrumental in the design of Electra’s future nine-passenger commercial aircraft, the EL9, which is expected to begin flight testing in 2027.
Grant Sussey, director of Aviation at Watertown International Airport, said, “The future of safe flight has always depended on our aviation pioneers. Given the last century of aviation improvements, our country’s safe air transportation system would be nowhere without the research and development done by our pioneers, many of whom built experimental aircraft. Electra is the new age aviation pioneer as they work towards larger scale advanced hybrid-electric propulsion systems. We are happy to work with them on their research and development needs and give them the North Country Welcome. We have a great facility and infrastructure that can support these types of operations”
“Electra is grateful to the team at Watertown International Airport for enabling this demonstration of the EL2’s Ultra Short capabilities in an off-runway capacity,” said Tom Carto, director of market development at Electra. “Our Ultra Short aircraft will offer the potential to increase the use of general aviation airports and expand the capacity of larger hubs by enabling takeoffs and landings on ramps and taxiways instead of runways, feeding in regional connections without adding to runway congestion. These transformative and practical capabilities will open the door to Direct Aviation and point-to-point connections in a way that will make it easier for people to get from the where they are to where they want to go.”
Electra is an advanced aerospace company dedicated to developing hybrid-electric Ultra Short airplanes that achieve never-before seen performance advantages to fly people and cargo seamlessly for regional and urban air mobility. Their proprietary blown-lift technology allows their aircraft to operate from small, soccer field-sized spaces, offering quieter, more affordable, and sustainable air travel with the range and payload of conventional aircraft, but without the need for large airports. 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.
Watertown International Airport serves as a vital air transportation hub for general, commercial and military aviation needs across Northern New York, the Thousand Islands region, Southern Ontario and the Fort Drum area. The airport features two runways with full parallel taxiways, advanced navigation aids, multiple instrument approach procedures and real-time weather reporting systems.
For more information, please visit watertownairport.com or find them on Facebook.
Electra chief test pilot Cody Allee and Watertown International Airport director of aviation Grant W. Sussey pose in front of Electra’s Ultra Short aircraft.
