Staff and Wire Reports
The U.S. Air Force has awarded a research contract to an aerospace firm developing a hybrid-electric ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft.
The USAF’s Phase III Small Business Innovation Research contract supports Electra-.aero Inc’s work on eSTOL technology. This funding will accelerate Electra’s plan to begin flight testing a full-scale hybrid electric eSTOL demonstrator aircraft later this year.
The Air Force Agility Prime program award charts a pth for future USAF acquisition of Electra’s eSTOL aircraft, the parties said.
"We are excited to expand our partnership with Electra through this Phase III contract award," said Lieutenant Colonel John "Wasp" Tekell, Air Force Agility Prime Lead. "Electra's hybrid eSTOL technology has the potential to bring a valuable, differentiated capability to the U.S. Air Force and Joint Partners. We look forward to supporting the rapid development, flight testing, and transition of eSTOL aircraft while continuing to support the development of advanced air mobility."
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Electra was awarded an Agility Prime SBIR Direct-to-Phase II contract earlier last year, which accelerated the development of Electra's hybrid-electric propulsion system technology.
"Hybrid-electric STOL technology has the potential to deliver game-changing energy efficiency improvements and meaningful payload and range performance needed for Air Force missions of the future," said John S. Langford, Founder and CEO of Electra. "We are thrilled to continue our close collaboration with the Agility Prime team and are honored to be selected for this important contract."
ESTOL aircraft could fly with a single pilot and up to 7 passengers onboard. Electra, which formed in 2020, says its model could lower operating costs 70 percent below vertical takeoff alternatives.
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(Rod Walton, senior editor for EnergyTech, is a 14-year veteran of covering the energy industry both as a newspaper and trade journalist. He can reached at [email protected]).
