Electra and Atlas Group Forge Partnership to Revolutionize Regional Aviation with EL9 Airframes
A significant leap towards the future of regional aviation has been made this week. Electra, based in Manassas, VA, and The Atlas Group from Wichita, KS, have inked a groundbreaking airframe manufacturing agreement for the EL9 Ultra Short. This is a nine-passenger, hybrid-electric aircraft capable of taking off and landing within a mere 150 feet.
The agreement, announced on September 15, 2026, stipulates that Atlas will manufacture and assemble EL9 airframes for Electra’s flight test and certification program. The work is set to commence this month, with the first deliveries anticipated in 2027. The EL9 employs eight electric motors along the wing’s leading edge to generate blown lift, coupled with a Safran turbogenerator for regional-range power. This gives it electric short take-off and landing (eSTOL) performance from spaces significantly smaller than conventional airports.
In December 2025, Electra submitted the EL9 for FAA Part 23 type certification. By July 2026, the FAA had established the aircraft’s certification basis. The company is eyeing commercial service by 2030 and has already secured more than 2,200 provisional orders from over 60 operators worldwide.
Electra has chosen Springfield, Ohio, as the location for its first EL9 production facility to support scaled production. This planned $850 million investment is expected to create nearly 2,000 jobs and produce up to 800 aircraft annually. Electra estimates a market requiring 12,000 to 16,000 EL9 aircraft in its first decade of operation, targeting the 35 million daily passenger trips on U.S. regional routes between 50 and 500 miles.
Source: Travel Daily News – Electra & Atlas Group EL9 Agreement, September 15, 2026