US Military-Backed Electra Lands Ultra Short Aircraft at Manhattan Heliport With No Runway Required

Electra demonstrated takeoffs and landings by its hybrid-electric Ultra Short aircraft at Downtown Skyport in Lower Manhattan, using the heliport without vertical-takeoff capability. The flights concluded two weeks of demonstrations and applied distributed electric propulsion to blow air over the wing, generating lift at very low speeds. The activity used the company’s technology-demonstration programme as it develops the larger nine-passenger EL9, supported by US Air Force and Army research funding. Electra targets EL9 first flight in 2027 and service entry in 2029, but the Manhattan demonstration does not establish production-aircraft performance with a full military cargo load.