Too far to travel by car, too close to travel by plane. This is a dilemma facing travelers on regional flights, but the American company “Electra” is betting on a hybrid electric plane that may provide a solution, as it does not need more than 46 meters to take off or land, which allows travel between regions without relying on airports or traditional roads.
The company, which specializes in air mobility solutions and is based in Virginia, hopes that its “Ultra Short” aircraft (EL9) will open a new era of “direct aviation,” connecting two points without the need to pass through major airports.
The company's CEO, Mark Allen, told CNN: "Despite the magnitude of the aviation sector, it does not address the most difficult problems we face in our daily lives."
He added that aviation is excellent for moving between continents and transporting goods, but it does not provide suitable solutions for trips that are “too long to travel by car, and so short that traveling by plane is not an easy option.”
Electra is based on what it calls the “Rule of Six,” six criteria for the next generation of aircraft:
The EL9 plane operates with a turbine generator and eight electric motors, and the company says it can cover a distance of up to 612 kilometers, with a load of up to 9 passengers or 1,360 kilograms of cargo.
Its batteries are charged during the flight with electricity generated by the turbine engine running on traditional jet fuel, which consumes 40% less fuel than similar aircraft, according to the company. It also indicates that its operating costs may be 70% lower compared to helicopters.
Its hybrid system is designed to enable the use of alternative energy sources, such as hydrogen, in the future, which may allow emissions-free journeys.
The noise level during take-off does not exceed 75 decibels, which is approximately equivalent to the sound of a vacuum cleaner. Its most prominent features are its ability to take off and land within a distance of only 46 metres, at a take-off speed of about 48 kilometers per hour.
This is due to its eight propellers that enhance the airflow over the wings, which helps it generate the lift necessary for flight, as well as a system of flaps and moving parts at the front of the wings.
Wind tunnel tests showed that the plane's lift coefficient exceeded 20, a result that Allen described as "amazing", as it was eight times greater than the capabilities of the wings of the latest large commercial aircraft.
Although they don't take off and land vertically like helicopters, Allen says the take-off experience is "like riding an elevator," adding, "Within about 3 to 4 seconds, you're in the air, and you look around to discover that you've gone up 5 or 6 stories."
The short take-off and landing distance allows the aircraft to use locations not suitable for conventional aircraft, such as helipads, fields, parking lots and flat areas at least 46 meters long.
Last month, a two-person prototype landed and then took off from a 91-metre-long floating barge used to park helicopters in New York's Lower Manhattan.
According to a study by the company, the distance between a parking lot in a shopping center in Washington, D.C., and a heliport in New York can be covered in one hour and 45 minutes, more than twice the speed of a trip by car or by current commercial aircraft.
UltraShort does not aim to replace airports or compete with airlines, but rather to connect new access points to existing air transport networks, allowing passengers to connect to more distant destinations.
But the commercial viability of this type of aircraft is still in question. Alexander Buchowski, director of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), believes that short trips within cities are difficult to justify in light of the availability of land transportation, while trips with distances ranging between 100 and 200 kilometers have greater opportunities to attract passengers who are willing to pay in exchange for saving time.
Buchowski pointed out that the biggest obstacle facing the sector is regulation and obtaining certification for new aircraft, in addition to the cost of the aircraft and the rate of use.
He told CNN: “Unless a balance is achieved between these two factors, either the service will become prohibitively expensive for passengers, or the company will operate at a loss.”
Electra has received more than 2,200 pre-orders from more than 60 airlines around the world, with a total value of $1.5 billion.
Tests of the plane are scheduled to begin in five locations in Norway in late 2027, with the air tests taking about a year before reaching a stage that allows the US Federal Aviation Administration to conduct official examinations, while the company aims to begin commercial flights in 2030.
Electra also plans to begin construction on an $850 million, 358,000-square-meter facility in Springfield, Ohio, next year.
The company's plans are not limited to civilian use, as its contracting parties include the US Air, Land, and Navy forces. Allen believes that the aircraft may, in the future, replace Black Hawk helicopters in some tactical transport missions.
The aircraft can quietly transport supplies to remote areas, as well as provide electricity to charge military equipment, from drones to communications devices.
“It's an electricity generator on the ground,” Allen said. “The energy this plane produces is enough to power 15 homes.”
But with a price tag of about $10 million for the commercial model, private ownership of this aircraft does not seem to be an option in the near future.
“We are still one generation away from getting there,” Allen concluded.
