While there’s a lot of talk about eVTOLs, there is still a demand for more conventional electric planes that can offer exceptional lift and take off and land using tiny runways.
Electra’s STOL aircraft is a great example of this. It has the ability to make a lot of lift and take off and land at very slow speeds, even on very small runways.
The aerospace company aims to help decarbonize aviation and open up new air transportation markets. Apparently, they have achieved pre-order sales of over 2,000 electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft, which are valued at over $8 billion.
Electra recently signed a Letter of Intent with JetSetGo Aviation Services Private Ltd. at Wings India 2024 and also has agreements with LYGG in Finland and Charm Aviation, LLC in New York City to introduce Electra’s eSTOL aircraft in their respective markets.
Electra’s eSTOL aircraft have garnered strong interest from flight operators across diverse markets. These operators are choosing Electra’s aircraft to provide a more sustainable and convenient air travel experience for their customers.
The eSTOL aircraft can facilitate short-distance flights from urban vertiports, cover longer journeys of up to 500 miles to regional airports, and even fly adventure tours or medical missions to locations without ground infrastructure. Electra’s partners appreciate the unparalleled flexibility, safety, and economics of these aircraft.
The collaboration between Electra, JetSetGo, LYGG, and Charm aims to establish connectivity between cities and regional transportation hubs and provide a more cost-effective solution per seat mile than traditional helicopters and eVTOLs.
Electra is currently developing a hybrid eSTOL aircraft that can transport passengers and cargo within urban and regional networks. The aircraft can take off and land in small spaces such as a soccer field. This feature enables flight operations from places that were previously inaccessible by flight, such as converted parking lots, barges, and very short landing strips.
The aircraft can carry up to nine passengers and a pilot, or 2500 pounds of cargo, and travel up to 500 miles (805 km) at a cruise speed of around 200 mph (322 km/h). The STOL aircraft has eight electric props along the leading edge of the wings, as well as large flaps hanging from the trailing edges, which creates a blown lift aerodynamic effect. This allows the aircraft to lift off at a speed of just 35 mph (56 km/h).
