Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra), U.S. industry experts in advanced air mobility and hybrid-electric aircraft technologies, has announced plans to establish an $850 million aircraft production facility in Springfield, Ohio. The planned facility, Electra’s first dedicated production site, is expected to create 1,975 jobs in Springfield and Clark County. It will anchor scaled production of the company’s nine-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft, with eventual capacity for up to 800 units annually. The 96-acre site will be located at AirPark Ohio, adjacent to Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport. Electra will begin the facility design process immediately, with construction expected to start in 2027. The initial development phase is planned to support production of up to 400 aircraft per year. A second phase would expand annual capacity to as many as 800 aircraft.

Electra selected Springfield following a year-long national search that evaluated more than 140 potential locations. The company considered workforce availability, infrastructure readiness, expansion capacity, state and local support, incentives, and proximity to aerospace, defense and advanced manufacturing expertise.

“Electra is opening a new era of aviation, one where flight is direct, accessible, and closer to the communities it serves,” said Marc Allen, CEO of Electra. “This agreement is the moment that our vision moves from demonstration into reality. In Springfield and Clark County, we found the rare combination this next era requires: a ready site, a skilled workforce, a deep aerospace and defense ecosystem, and state and local leaders with the commitment and vision to build it with us. We are grateful to the City of Springfield, Clark County, and the State of Ohio for welcoming Electra into this community as we prepare to bring the EL9 Ultra Short into production, through certification, and ultimately into service.”

Rendering of Electra’s planned hybrid-electric aircraft production facility in Springfield, Ohio, featured in Aerospace Technology Monthly

Electra plans to establish an $850 million hybrid-electric aircraft production facility at AirPark Ohio in Springfield, with eventual capacity for up to 800 aircraft annually.

Electra’s nine-passenger fixed-wing aircraft combines hybrid-electric propulsion with blown-lift technology. The company says the design will allow the aircraft to take off and land in as little as 150 feet, supporting point-to-point operations from smaller airfields and other locations beyond traditional commercial airports. The aircraft is being developed for regional passenger travel, commercial advanced air mobility, military logistics, cargo transportation and humanitarian operations. Electra refers to the operating model as Direct Aviation, an approach intended to connect passengers and destinations more directly through smaller access points, including compact airfields and other suitable operating locations. The company believes this could address demand for trips between 50 and 250 flying miles, a market that is not consistently served by existing commercial aviation.

The Dayton-Springfield region provides Electra with access to an established aerospace research, testing and manufacturing ecosystem. Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport is home to the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence and SkyVision, a Federal Aviation Administration-approved ground-based detect-and-avoid system supporting beyond-visual-line-of-sight flight testing in unrestricted airspace. The site is also located near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air Force Research Laboratory, providing access to one of the nation’s largest concentrations of aerospace research, engineering and defense expertise.

“Ohio is where flight began, and the Dayton-Springfield area has become the national epicenter for advanced air mobility – the place where the next generation of aircraft is being designed, tested, and now built at scale,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “Electra’s decision to bring nearly 2,000 new jobs to Springfield will be transformative for Clark County, demonstrating Ohio’s unique ability to lead America into aviation’s next era.”

The project is expected to receive state and local support tied to employment, workforce development, infrastructure readiness and long-term manufacturing growth. In addition, Electra plans to pursue an Ohio Job Creation Tax Credit at a future meeting of the Ohio Tax Credit Authority. JobsOhio also intends to provide project assistance, with details to be disclosed following completion of a final agreement. The planned Ohio facility is the latest step in Electra’s transition from aircraft development into certification and commercial production. In 2025, the company raised $115 million in Series B financing led by Prysm Capital to support pre-production and certification activities.

“This is a landmark moment for Electra and for aviation,” said Jay Park, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Prysm Capital. “Building a new category of aircraft takes conviction at every step, and the Electra team has delivered on each one. We’re proud to be their partner as the EL9 goes from proving what’s possible to producing it.”

Electra has also entered into a life-of-program agreement with Safran Helicopter Engines to develop and produce the turbogenerator that will power the aircraft. The agreement includes an initial order for 250 units. A separate agreement with Bristow Group includes non-refundable pre-delivery payments and binding terms aligned with established commercial aviation standards, subject to aircraft certification. The agreement secures the first planned aircraft delivery slot for Bristow.  In addition, Electra has submitted the aircraft to the FAA for Part 23 type certification. The FAA has closed the G-1 Issue Paper establishing its certification basis, and the company anticipates a first flight in late 2027 or early 2028. Electra will continue operating portions of its engineering, development and business activities from its existing facilities in Manassas, Virginia. Together, the Virginia and Ohio campuses will support the company’s planned progression through certification, production and commercial entry into service.

About Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra)

Electra.aero, Inc. is a U.S. advanced air mobility company developing hybrid-electric fixed-wing aircraft for regional passenger, cargo, military and humanitarian applications. The company’s aircraft technology combines distributed electric propulsion, blown lift and hybrid-electric power generation to support short takeoff and landing operations from locations with limited runway infrastructure. Electra is positioning the aircraft to serve routes and missions that cannot be efficiently supported by conventional commercial aircraft, helicopters or emerging electric vertical takeoff and landing platforms. Headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, Electra is led by a team of aerospace entrepreneurs, engineers and aircraft designers with experience across more than 40 previously developed or certified aircraft programs. The company’s strategic investors include Lockheed Martin Ventures, Honeywell, Safran, Prysm Capital and the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation. Electra also works with U.S. government organizations including the Air Force, Army, Navy and NASA.  For more information, please click here.

Source/Rendering Credit: Electra.aero, Inc.

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Molly Bakewell Chamberlin
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