MIT-born aircraft company Electra is investing $850 million to build its nine-passenger hybrid aircraft in Ohio. The fixed-wing plane can take off and land on very short spaces, giving passengers a new option for shorter trips without relying on major airports.
Electra is developing a hybrid aircraft designed for trips of roughly 50 to 250 miles. It aims to combine the range of a fuel-powered aircraft with the shorter takeoff and landing needs of electric aircraft.
The company has already tested a two-seat version. It says the aircraft has completed more than 200 flights, showing that the idea has moved beyond the classroom and into flight testing.
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The aircraft began as a 2017 MIT class project involving graduate students in an aerospace course. Chris Courtin, now Electra’s director of technology development, worked on the idea as a student, teaching assistant, and later as part of his PhD research.
Electra was founded in 2019 by MIT alumnus John Langford. MIT professors Mark Drela and John Hansman also served as founding technical advisors.
Short trips can be difficult when travelers live far from a major airport. Driving can take hours, while traditional aircraft need large runways and airport infrastructure.
Electra wants to reduce that problem. Its aircraft can use spaces roughly the length of a soccer field, potentially allowing flights from smaller locations closer to where passengers live and work.
The aircraft uses a hybrid power system. A gas-powered generator provides power during normal flight, while batteries and electric motors provide extra power during takeoff and landing.
The plane has eight electric motors mounted along its wings. Their propellers create extra airflow over the wings, producing more lift and allowing the aircraft to operate from much shorter spaces than conventional airplanes.
Electra’s planned passenger aircraft will carry nine people and have a range of about 1,200 miles. Its cruising speed is around 200 miles per hour, according to the company.
The aircraft could connect smaller communities with major airports or provide direct flights between nearby locations. Electra is also exploring uses for cargo, military logistics, and humanitarian missions.
The aircraft is still moving toward large-scale production. Electra’s first Ohio manufacturing facility has yet to be built, with construction planned for a 96-acre site.
The company must also prove that its aircraft can operate safely, reliably, and affordably at a much larger scale. Turning successful test flights into regular passenger service will require further testing and regulatory approval.
The main breakthrough is combining a hybrid power system with very short takeoff and landing capability in a fixed-wing aircraft. This could make smaller landing areas useful for air travel without the large infrastructure required by traditional airports.
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Electra plans to invest $850 million in manufacturing in Springfield and Clark County, Ohio. The project is expected to create 1,975 jobs, while the first production phase is planned to make up to 400 aircraft a year.
MIT News reported that the project grew from a student idea into a company working toward large-scale aircraft production. If Electra succeeds, its aircraft could change how people travel shorter distances and make local air connections easier.
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