A classroom project from MIT’s 16.886 course is evolving into an $850 million aircraft manufacturing venture, targeting a new hybrid‑propulsion plane built in Ohio. Electra’s design lets a fixed‑wing aircraft take off and land on runways far shorter than those required by conventional planes, while offering greater range and speed than all‑electric aircraft. The aircraft combines a compact gas‑powered generator with two battery packs mounted under the floor; during takeoff and landing the generator and batteries feed eight wing‑mounted electric motors, and in cruise the generator powers the propellers and recharges the batteries.
The “blown lift” effect enables takeoff and landing on a strip roughly the length of a soccer field. With a range of about $1,200$ miles and a cruise speed of $200$ mph, the nine‑seat plane targets the $50$–$250$‑mile travel niche, offering a faster alternative to driving or commercial flights and operating much quieter, allowing use of barges, parking lots or even fields as airstrips.
Founded by MIT alumnus John Langford, with professors Mark Drela and John Hansman as technical advisors, the concept originated in 2017. Student teams built a sub‑scale model, tested it in MIT’s Wright Brothers wind tunnel and in flight. The EL2 two‑seat prototype completed its first test flights in 2023 and has logged over 200 flights, proving the hybrid propulsion system’s viability.
In 2024 Electra announced an $850 million investment to build a 96‑acre factory in Springfield and Clark County, Ohio. The first phase will produce 400 nine‑seat aircraft per year, scaling later to roughly 800, creating an estimated 1,975 jobs. The company is also exploring military logistics, cargo transport, and humanitarian missions.
Blogger's Review: Electra demonstrates how a university project can transition into a market‑ready aviation solution, marrying theory with practice. If cost and noise targets are met, ultra‑short‑runway aircraft could reshape regional mobility and open new travel options for underserved areas.