Electra Taps Atlas Group to Build First EL9 Airframes as Certification Path Takes Shape

Electra.aero has awarded Atlas Group, a US aerospace manufacturer, a contract to produce the initial pre-production airframes for its EL9 Ultra Short aircraft, a nine-passenger hybrid-electric platform designed to operate from spaces as constrained as 45 metres (150 feet) thanks to its blown-lift wing design.

Under the arrangement, Atlas will manufacture and assemble the airframes that will support Electra’s flight-test and certification campaign. Production activity at Atlas’ facilities is slated to begin later this month, with first airframe deliveries expected in 2027.

De-risking the production ramp

Beyond building the test fleet, Atlas is expected to play a role in maturing Electra’s manufacturing processes ahead of full-rate output — a step the company frames as reducing industrial risk and ensuring the production line can scale once the aircraft is certified.

Electra ultimately plans to build the EL9 at a new facility in Springfield, Ohio, which the company says will be capable of supporting annual output of up to 800 aircraft once fully operational. Moving airframe work to an experienced external manufacturer in the interim allows Electra to focus on certification while establishing its own production footprint.

Propulsion and timeline

The EL9’s propulsion architecture pairs a Safran Helicopter Engines TG600 turbogenerator with eight electric motors supplied by Evolito, a configuration that underpins the aircraft’s short-field performance. Electra is targeting entry into service in 2030.

The blown-wing approach — in which propeller wash is directed over the wing to generate lift at very low speeds — is central to the EL9’s ability to use runways and improvised surfaces far shorter than those required by conventional aircraft of similar capacity.

What to watch

• Start of airframe manufacturing at Atlas facilities later this month, per the announced schedule.
• First pre-production airframe deliveries, expected in 2027.
• Progress on Electra’s Springfield, Ohio facility build-out and hiring as the certification programme advances.
• Flight-test milestones for the EL9 demonstrator leading toward type certification and the 2030 service-entry target.

Source: original release