August 19, 2025

Electra Showcases Ultra Short Takeoff and Landing Aircraft at Virginia Tech and VTCRC

Earlier this month, Electra, in partnership with Surf Air Mobility Inc. (“Surf Air Mobility”) and Virginia Tech, completed the first public demonstrations of its hybrid-electric aircraft with Ultra Short takeoff and landing capabilities. The flights, captured in a new video series, illustrate how Electra’s breakthrough approach—combining blown-lift technology with hybrid-electric propulsion—can enable aircraft to take off and land in 150 feet or less.

This milestone represents a bold step toward the future of Direct Aviation, a new model for air travel that moves away from large, congested hubs and instead connects communities through thousands of smaller, more accessible locations.

Demonstrations at Virginia Tech and VTCRC

The demonstration flights took place at multiple Virginia Tech locations, including:

  • A 300’ x 75’ paved surface normally used for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
  • A closed-access test road at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
  • A grass field at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC)

Electra’s EL2 technology demonstrator was used for these flights, while the company’s flagship EL9—a nine-passenger aircraft—will eventually enter commercial service with similar capabilities.

Why This Matters

By enabling takeoffs and landings in tight spaces, Electra’s aircraft could expand regional mobility options across the country, particularly in places where traditional airports are inaccessible. This approach eliminates the pain points of today’s aviation model—long drives to major airports, crowded terminals, and limited route options—replacing them with direct, efficient connections closer to where people live, work, and travel.

A Georgia Tech study highlights strong demand for this type of service in the U.S. Northeast Corridor, especially for trips between 50 and 300 nautical miles—distances often too short for conventional air travel but too long for efficient ground transportation.

Partnership for Scale

Surf Air Mobility, which operates commuter airlines Southern Airways and Mokulele Airlines, brings millions of miles of passenger flight experience, an existing nationwide network, and its proprietary SurfOS™ software platform to the table. Together with Electra’s EL9, this partnership lays the foundation for scaling Direct Aviation across the U.S.

Marc Allen, CEO of Electra, emphasized the significance of the demonstration:

“These demonstrations showcased breathtakingly short takeoffs and landings and pinpoint landing capabilities with the power to transform aviation as we know it. It’s a great credit to our amazing teammates and partners that we are now demonstrating these capabilities in real world, non-airport environments.”

Louis Saint-Cyr, COO and President of Hawai’i Operations, highlighted the operational impact:

“What stood out to us immediately was the operational flexibility that the EL9 will enable. The aircraft will be faster to turn around, less expensive to operate, and easier to deploy. These demonstration flights were a critical step forward in Electra’s journey to commercialization and will solve real pain points with regional air mobility. We’re excited to work with Electra to leverage our platform to help bring this novel technology to market at scale.”

Eric Paterson, executive director of the Virginia Tech National Security Institute, added:

“What Electra demonstrated at Virginia Tech was a first glimpse of how air travel will work in the near future. It was a practical demonstration of how the EL9 can integrate into everyday environments, proving it works where it needs to.”

The Future of Direct Aviation

Electra’s EL9 aircraft is designed to be three times more cost-effective than helicopters or eVTOLs, while operating 100 times quieter. With over 2,200 pre-orders from more than 60 operators worldwide, it is already among the most anticipated aircraft in the advanced air mobility sector.

For the VTCRC community, hosting part of this groundbreaking demonstration underscores our role as a testbed for emerging technologies. Positioned at the intersection of world-class research and private enterprise, the VTCRC provides a place where education meets business—and where innovation has room to take flight. Here, opportunity, innovation, and impact converge, creating the conditions where companies can push boundaries, demonstrate new capabilities, and shape technologies that will transform industries and improve everyday life.

In the coming months, Electra will share more about use cases, operator partnerships, and regional routes that showcase how Ultra Short aircraft will unlock a new era of Direct Aviation.

Read the original post from Electra HERE