Aviation startup Electra made history last month when EL2 became the first hybrid-electric Ultra Short Take-off and Landing (uSTOL) to successfully complete helicopter-style takeoffs and landings at Watertown International Airport.
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Electra was founded with the goal of providing affordable air travel without airports, emissions, or noise. Its stated goal was to build an aircraft that could deliver on the promise of eVTOL aircraft at a significantly reduced cost compared to its more drone-like competitors. In that context, the Watertown demonstration is not just a publicity stunt, but part of a concerted effort to validate Electra’s uSTOL performance under real-world conditions at a commercial airport — exactly the kind of place regional carriers, cargo carriers, and emergency responders actually fly in and out of.
Achieving these goals now will help Electra pave the way for FAA certification and prove that the company can deliver on the $9 billion in promises it has made so far.
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“Electra is grateful to the Watertown International Airport team for enabling this demonstration of the EL2’s Ultra Short capabilities in an off-runway capacity,” explained Tom Carto, director of market development at Electra. “Our Ultra Short aircraft will offer the potential to increase general airport utilization and expand the capacity of larger hubs by allowing takeoffs and landings on ramps and taxiways instead of runways, powering regional connections without adding to runway congestion. These transformative and practical capabilities will open the door to Direct Aviation and point-to-point connections in a way that will make it easier for people to get from where they are to where they want to go.”
The EL2’s innovative “blown lift” design features eight electric motors in the aircraft’s wings, allowing takeoff and landing in just 150 feet. Electra says the final version of its aircraft will be able to operate from airfields as small as 90 x 30 meters, or about one-tenth the length of a typical airport runway.
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This means that, even if these eSTOL aircraft don't open up as many spaces for air travel as eVTOLs, they will be extremely versatile – and more than capable of operating from the rooftops of many existing buildings and parking structures.
