Electra Files Type Cert Application for EL9 STOL Aircraft

Electra Aero has submitted a type certificate application to the FAA for its nine-passenger, hybrid-electric EL9 Ultra Short aircraft, the company announced on December 10. The Virginia-based manufacturer intends to certify the EL9 under the FAA’s Part 23 rules, which establish airworthiness standards for small, normal-category airplanes with up to 19 seats.

According to Electra, the materials it has submitted to the FAA include the Form 8110-12 type certificate application, the project-specific certification plan (PSCP), and EL9 aircraft specification documents.

“This certification application signals that the EL9 is fast becoming a reality and reflects the progress our team and the FAA have made together,” said Electra CEO Marc Allen. “The EL9 combines blown-lift with distributed electric propulsion to unlock air travel that takes people directly from where they are to where they want to go.”

Designed for ultra-short takeoff and landing (STOL) operations, the EL9 aircraft uses blown-lift aerodynamics to quietly take off and land on runways as short as 150 feet. This enables operations at small, underserved airports and nontraditional sites such as parking lots and fields, according to Electra, which aims to bring the aircraft to market in 2029. With a payload of 3,000 pounds and a range of up to 1,100 nm, the aircraft can carry passengers or cargo.

“We will continue to engage with the FAA to demonstrate that the EL9 is a reliable fixed-wing aircraft that will serve passengers, move cargo, and connect communities for many years to come,” Allen said.