Electra Plans New Ohio Facility to Produce Hybrid-Electric EL9 Aircraft
Electra, a Virginia-based aerospace company, has announced plans to build a 96-acre aircraft manufacturing facility at AirPark Ohio in Springfield, Ohio. The company will invest $850 million in the project, which is expected to create approximately 1,975 new jobs, making it one of the region’s largest aerospace manufacturing investments.
The new factory will produce Electra’s EL9 Ultra Short, a nine-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft designed for regional travel. The EL9 features ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) technology, allowing it to operate from runways as short as 150 feet (46 meters). This capability could enable the aircraft to use smaller airports and airfields that are inaccessible to conventional airplanes, improving regional connectivity while reducing infrastructure requirements. The aircraft is being developed for flights of up to 250 miles (402 kilometers).
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Ohio to Host Electra’s Large-Scale Manufacturing Plant for Next-Generation Aircraft
Construction of the manufacturing facility will take place in two phases. During the initial phase, the factory is expected to produce up to 400 aircraft annually, with a planned expansion later increasing maximum production capacity to 800 aircraft per year. Company officials emphasized that 800 aircraft represents the plant’s long-term production goal rather than its initial output.
Before commercial manufacturing begins, Electra must obtain certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The company expects the EL9’s first full-scale flight to take place in late 2027 or 2028, after which it will continue the certification process before entering commercial production. The project reflects growing industry investment in hybrid-electric aviation as manufacturers seek to develop quieter, more fuel-efficient, and lower-emission aircraft for short-haul regional transportation.
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