Aerospace firm Electra has chosen Springfield, OH, as the location for its primary commercial manufacturing complex to produce the EL9 Ultra Short, a nine-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft. Supported by an $850 million investment, the 96-acre facility at AirPark Ohio is expected to create nearly 2,000 regional jobs and eventually yield up to 800 aircraft annually across a two-phase expansion.
Designed around blown-lift technology that enables takeoffs and landings in as little as 150 feet, the aircraft aims to serve an emerging market for direct, point-to-point regional air transport using non-traditional landing sites like parking lots and sports fields.
The company selected the site following a nationwide evaluation of over 140 potential locations, citing the area’s rich aviation heritage, deep workforce talent and proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Furthermore, the adjacent airfield offers specialized testing infrastructure, including ground-based detect-and-avoid systems that support beyond-visual-line-of-sight flight operations. Backed by state and local development incentives, the project aligns with recent certification progress from the Federal Aviation Administration and component agreements with Safran Helicopter Engines, positioning the site to begin construction next year ahead of target flight testing.
