Electra Aero: Aircraft, Funding, and Certification Profile
Electra Aero builds hybrid-electric Ultra Short aircraft using blown lift and distributed electric propulsion, which the company describes as runway-independent airlift.
Electra Aero is a privately held aircraft company based in Manassas, Virginia. The company builds hybrid-electric Ultra Short fixed-wing aircraft using blown lift and distributed electric propulsion, which Electra describes as runway-independent airlift. Electra has no public stock ticker, its EL9 aircraft has not yet flown, and type certification remains in progress.
What Electra Aero Builds
Electra built and flew the EL2 Goldfinch, a two-seat technology demonstrator using blown lift, distributed electric propulsion, and a hybrid-electric system. Electra reported an all-electric flight on November 11, 2023, and a hybrid-electric flight on November 19, 2023, piloted by Cody Allee from Manassas Regional Airport in Virginia, with the first hybrid flight lasting 23 minutes. Electra also reported that the EL2 Goldfinch was the first piloted electric aircraft to fly at the NASA Langley Research Center.
The company is developing the EL9 Ultra Short, a nine-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft. Electra says the EL9 can take off and land in 150 feet, with a payload capacity up to 3,000 pounds. Electra's releases cite differing range figures (1,100 nautical miles in April 2025; 330 nautical miles in July 2026).
The EL9 is not flying yet. An April 2025 report in Aviation International News described a full-scale prototype flight as aimed for 2027.
| Aircraft | Role | Propulsion | Capacity | Flight Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EL2 Goldfinch | Technology demonstrator | Hybrid-electric blown lift | Two seats | Flown (November 2023) |
| EL9 Ultra Short | In development | Hybrid-electric blown lift | Nine passengers | Not yet flown |
Company Background and Executive Leadership
Electra was launched in 2020 by John S. Langford, who served as founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer.
On August 29, 2024, Electra announced B. Marc Allen as Chief Executive Officer, with Langford continuing as Chairman. Allen previously served as Boeing's Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development, and was Chairman of Wisk Aero.
Electra lists its headquarters address at 10761 James Payne Court, Manassas, VA 20110. A January 2022 release previously listed Falls Church, Virginia.
Funding History from Company Releases
Electra announced a Series A funding round on January 18, 2022, led by Lockheed Martin Ventures, as reported in a company press release. The amount was not disclosed in the release. The announcement stated that Electra's technology development was backed by NASA and the U.S. Air Force Agility Prime program.
On April 21, 2025, Electra announced a $115 million Series B round led by Prysm Capital, with Prysm co-founder and managing partner Jay Park joining the board. Other named investors included Lockheed Martin Ventures, Honeywell, Safran, Statkraft Ventures, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, and private investors. The release stated no valuation. Electra said the funds move the EL9 into pre-production and certification, and stated that it had about 80 employees.
We found no funding round after the April 2025 Series B in a company release as of September 29, 2026. Third-party aggregators publish totals and valuations that Electra has not confirmed. For general mechanics on private investments, see our guide on how private-company exposure works and its risks.
Government Agreements and Defense Awards
On January 26, 2023, Electra announced a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) award from AFWERX totaling up to $85 million. The total consists of $30 million from the Air Force plus $55 million in private investment, alongside matching Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding, to develop a full-scale pre-production eSTOL prototype. The release cited six active USAF SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contracts and the AFWERX Agility Prime program.
Electra's April 2025 release says it holds more than 20 SBIR contracts from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and NASA, and was performing the STRATFI contract.
To research how these federal agreements function, see our guides on SBIR and STTR funding mechanics and how defense procurement works.
Federal Aviation Administration Certification Path
Electra says it submitted its Part 23 type-certification application to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in November 2025.
Electra says the FAA closed the G-1 issue paper on July 10, 2026, establishing the certification basis for the EL9 in about seven months. Electra says the issue paper covers distributed hybrid-electric propulsion, blown lift, and fly-by-wire systems. The next phase, G-2, defines means of compliance. This milestone is not type certification.
Electra's July to September 2026 releases say entry to service is expected or targeted in 2030. Earlier targets were reported as 2028 in November 2023 company materials, and 2029 in April 2025 trade coverage.
On September 22, 2026, Electra announced EL2 flights in Virginia using helicopter-style instrument procedures. The flights used Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (KROA) as the primary site, alongside other Virginia locations, landing on heliports, vertiports, taxiways, and small areas under the FAA's eVTOL and Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program (eIPP).
Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Pre-Orders
On July 15, 2026, Electra and Safran Helicopter Engines announced a life-of-program production agreement for the TG600 turbogenerator (600 kW, based on the Arrano engine) with an initial order for 250 units, following a 2023 memorandum of understanding. Electra said first flight tests of the EL9 are anticipated late 2027 or early 2028.
On July 21, 2026, Electra announced an $850 million production facility at AirPark Ohio next to Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport in Springfield, Ohio, on 96 acres. The project involves 1,975 new jobs, with phase 1 producing up to 400 EL9 aircraft per year and phase 2 producing up to 800 per year. Electra plans to pursue an Ohio Job Creation Tax Credit, and JobsOhio said further assistance details follow final agreement execution. Design work begins immediately, Electra said. Construction is expected to start in 2027.
On September 15, 2026, Electra and the Atlas Group announced an agreement under which Atlas will manufacture and assemble EL9 airframes for flight test and certification at its Wichita, Kansas facilities. Work begins that month, with first deliveries anticipated in 2027.
Electra says it has more than 2,200 aircraft on pre-order from over 60 operators, which Electra valued at more than $10 billion in its Series B release. Electra's releases call these provisional orders. Earlier company counts stated over 1,000 provisional orders in January 2023, and over 1,700 valued at more than $6 billion in November 2023. These announced pre-orders are not confirmed sales, deliveries, or revenue.
Corporate Registration and Public Market Peers
Electra Aero is a privately held company with no public stock ticker. A search of SEC EDGAR company names for 'Electra.aero' and 'Electra Aero Inc' returned no registrant, and we found no IPO, SPAC or public-listing announcement through September 2026.
Unrelated companies with similar names appear in public news. Electra Vehicles is a battery-software company in a SPAC merger; they are not Electra Aero. Another firm in news reports, Electra Therapeutics, is a biotechnology company.
Publicly traded electric aviation developers include Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation. In defense flight autonomy, Merlin Labs is an aviation autonomy company with Air Force work. Additional aviation and aerospace profiles are available in our company directory.
Electra Aero: Aircraft, Funding, and Certification Profile FAQs
Is Electra Aero a publicly traded company?
No. Electra Aero is a privately held company with no stock ticker. A search of SEC EDGAR company names for Electra.aero and Electra Aero Inc returned no registrant, and we found no IPO, SPAC or public-listing announcement through September 2026.
What is an eSTOL aircraft and what does Electra build?
Electra builds hybrid-electric Ultra Short fixed-wing aircraft using blown lift and distributed electric propulsion, which Electra describes as runway-independent airlift. The company flew its two-seat EL2 Goldfinch demonstrator in November 2023 and is developing the nine-passenger EL9, which has not yet flown.
Who has invested in Electra Aero?
Investors named in Electra releases include Lockheed Martin Ventures, Prysm Capital, Honeywell, Safran, Statkraft Ventures, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, and private investors. Prysm Capital led the $115 million Series B round announced in April 2025. We found no funding round after the April 2025 Series B in a company release as of September 29, 2026.
Where is the EL9 in FAA certification?
Electra says it submitted its Part 23 type-certification application in November 2025. Electra says the FAA closed the G-1 issue paper on July 10, 2026, establishing the certification basis for the EL9 in about seven months. The next phase, G-2, defines means of compliance. Electra's releases target service entry in 2030, moving from earlier targets of 2028 and 2029.
Does Electra have U.S. military or government contracts?
Electra's April 2025 release says it holds more than 20 SBIR contracts from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and NASA. In January 2023, Electra announced an AFWERX STRATFI award totaling up to $85 million, consisting of $30 million from the Air Force and $55 million in private investment.