Electra Chooses Ohio for $850 Million Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Hub

The facility will occupy a 96-acre site at AirPark Ohio, sitting adjacent to the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport. By moving into the Dayton-Springfield corridor, Electra gains direct access to the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence and the FAA-approved SkyVision system. This infrastructure allows the company to conduct beyond visual line of sight flight testing, a critical advantage for finalizing the EL9, a nine-passenger craft designed to take off and land in under 150 feet.

Electra CEO Marc Allen described the selection as a transition from demonstration to reality, citing the region's deep aerospace ecosystem and proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Construction is slated to begin next year, following an initial design phase. The production strategy is split into two stages: the first will reach a capacity of 400 aircraft per year, with a subsequent expansion doubling that output to 800.

This move reinforces Ohio’s strategy to position itself as the epicenter of advanced air mobility. Governor Mike DeWine noted that the investment represents a significant shift in reindustrializing domestic aircraft manufacturing. The company, which has already secured $115 million in Series B funding, anticipates that the EL9 will fill a market gap for 50-to-250-mile trips, a segment it expects will demand up to 16,000 aircraft by 2040. Electra maintains its existing operations in Manassas, Virginia, which will continue to support the company’s broader growth objectives as it pursues FAA Part 23 type certification.