A series of "breathtakingly short" takeoffs and landings showcase how Electra's hybrid-electric aircraft will unlock the new era of Direct Aviation
Surf Air Mobility will leverage its operational scale and proprietary SurfOS™ software for next-generation electrified aircraft
BLACKSBURG, Va., Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Electra.aero, Inc. ("Electra"), in partnership with Surf Air Mobility Inc. ("Surf Air Mobility") (NYSE:SRFM) and Virginia Tech, successfully completed the first series of public demonstrations of its Ultra Short aircraft capabilities earlier this month.
The demos – captured as part of a new video series – highlight how blown lift and hybrid-electric propulsion together enable takeoffs and landings in 150 feet or less at Ultra Short Access Points connected to novel airstrips, austere environments, or campus settings.
These groundbreaking capabilities accelerate Electra's bold vision for advanced air mobility via Direct Aviation, opening the door to thousands of potential new routes that can be flown once its flagship EL9 Ultra Short aircraft reaches commercial service in 2029.
The demonstrations took place at several locations at Virginia Tech, including:
- A 300-foot by 75-foot paved surface used for takeoff and landing of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
- An access road on a closed test-bed campus research facility managed by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
- A grass field at The Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center
Electra's EL2 technology demonstrator completed the flights. Ultimately, Electra's flagship EL9 nine-passenger aircraft will enter service with similar capabilities.
Surf Air Mobility, via its airline subbrands Southern Airways and Mokulele Airlines, have flown millions of passengers over millions of miles since inception. With Surf Air Mobility's decade of operational experience, existing nationwide commuter scheduled flight network, and proprietary SurfOS software, Surf Air Mobility is creating a platform to enable the launch of new electrified aircraft. Once certified, Electra's EL9 Ultra Short aircraft has the potential to leverage Surf Air Mobility's operations and software platform to bring the aircraft technology to market at scale.