en.Wedoany.com Reported - Electra plans to build its first EL9 Ultra Short production facility in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, marking the company's transition of the nine-seat hybrid-electric aircraft from development to scaled commercial production.

The total investment of $850 million is expected to create 1,975 new jobs. The new facility will support the production of the EL9 Ultra Short to meet the demand for a new accessible, point-to-point air transportation mode called Direct Aviation. The EL9 Ultra Short is a nine-seat fixed-wing aircraft that utilizes hybrid-electric propulsion and blown lift technology, enabling takeoff and landing in just 150 feet. The facility will be located at AirPark Ohio, adjacent to the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport.

Electra CEO Marc Allen stated that this agreement marks the company's vision moving from demonstration to reality. He said that in Springfield and Clark County, the company found the combination needed for the new era: ready sites, a skilled workforce, a deep aerospace and defense ecosystem, and committed state and local leaders with vision. The production facility will ensure Electra maintains U.S. global leadership in hybrid-electric aviation, and the EL9 Ultra Short will open new markets for commercial advanced air mobility, military logistics, and humanitarian applications.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine stated that Ohio is where flight began, and the Dayton-Springfield region has become the national center for advanced air mobility, where next-generation aircraft are designed, tested, and now begin scaled production. He believes Electra's decision to bring nearly 2,000 new jobs to Springfield will have a transformative impact on Clark County and demonstrates Ohio's ability to lead the U.S. into a new era of aviation. Electra selected the site after a year-long nationwide competitive search, evaluating over 140 potential locations. Evaluation criteria included workforce availability, infrastructure readiness, long-term expansion capability, state and local partnerships, incentives, and proximity to the aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing talent needed to support EL9 Ultra Short production.

The new 96-acre facility will be used to produce the EL9 Ultra Short. The initial development phase will begin with design, and facility construction will start next year. The initial phase will support production capacity of up to 400 aircraft per year, and the second phase of development will expand capacity to up to 800 aircraft per year. The company chose the Dayton-Springfield region because it offers a unique combination of assets for advanced air mobility (AAM) enterprises. The Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport is home to the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE) and the FAA-approved SkyVision ground-based detect and avoid system, enabling beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight testing in non-restricted airspace. These infrastructure assets complement the growing AAM production near Dayton International Airport and the region's proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), together forming one of the world's densest concentrations of aerospace R&D talent.

JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef stated that JobsOhio and the Dayton Development Coalition are proud to welcome Electra's first production facility to Ohio. He said this investment builds on years of collaboration to establish the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport as a national advanced air mobility hub. Here, Electra will have direct access to the nation's top AAM testing infrastructure, a proven aerospace workforce, a deep manufacturing supply chain, and the research capabilities of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Electra's investment will be supported by state and local incentives tied to job creation, workforce development, infrastructure readiness, and long-term manufacturing growth. The project will apply for a job creation tax credit from the Ohio Department of Development at a future Tax Credit Authority meeting. JobsOhio also plans to provide assistance, which will be announced after the final agreement is signed. The incentive package is designed to support hundreds of additional jobs in Ohio in the coming years.

The EL9 Ultra Short is designed to launch Direct Aviation, a new form of air travel that connects people and places directly point-to-point by using new access points such as parking lots, barges, and sports fields. The aircraft is designed around Electra's six principles: accessibility, quiet operation, payload, range, safety, and affordability. In 2025, the company secured a $115 million Series B funding round led by Prysm Capital to support the pre-production and certification of the EL9 Ultra Short.

Jay Park, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Prysm Capital, stated that this is a milestone moment for Electra and the aviation industry, and the Electra team has been unwavering at every step.

In May, Electra released the Direct Aviation market outlook, which focuses on trips between 50 and 250 flight miles. Electra's analysis found that meeting this demand would require 12,000 to 16,000 aircraft between 2030 and 2040. Previously, Electra signed a lifecycle agreement with Safran Helicopter Engines to jointly develop and produce the TG600 turbogenerator that will power the EL9 Ultra Short. The agreement includes an initial order of 250 units and establishes the Safran TG600 as the core of the EL9 hybrid-electric propulsion system. Earlier this year, Electra and Bristow Group Inc. announced a pre-delivery payment agreement, including non-refundable deposits and binding terms and conditions consistent with commercial aviation industry standards, contingent upon aircraft certification, securing the first delivery slots for the EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft equipped with the TG600.

Electra has also submitted a Part 23 type certification application for the EL9 Ultra Short aircraft to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and expects the first flight to occur in late 2027 or early 2028. The FAA recently concluded the G-1 issue paper, formally establishing the certification basis for the aircraft, moving the company into the next phase of type certification. Electra will also continue to operate part of its business from its facility in Manassas, Virginia, with both campuses providing the structure, talent, and operating model needed to drive the next phase of growth.

Electra.aero, Inc. is an advanced air mobility (AAM) company dedicated to manufacturing hybrid-electric Ultra Short aircraft. With the EL9 Ultra Short, the company is pioneering Direct Aviation. Electra's Ultra Short technology delivers 2.5 times the payload and 10 times the range, with operating costs 70% lower than helicopters and eVTOLs. Electra's team has previously successfully developed and certified over 40 aircraft. Strategic investors include Lockheed Martin Ventures, Honeywell, and Safran. Signed customers include the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and NASA, along with over 2,200 letters of intent from more than 60 commercial customers.