Electra has announced plans to establish its first production facility for the EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft in Springfield, Ohio. Here, the company will move from aircraft development to commercial manufacturing.
The facility, which will be located at AirPark Ohio next to Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport, represents an investment of 850 million USD and is expected to create 1,975 jobs in Clark County.
Construction will take place on a 96-acre site, with design work beginning immediately and construction scheduled to start next year. The first phase of the facility is planned to produce up to 400 aircraft annually, with a second phase increasing capacity to 800 aircraft per year.
Marc Allen, CEO of Electra said:Electra is opening a new era of aviation, one where flight is direct, accessible, and closer to the communities it serves. This agreement is the moment that our vision moves from demonstration into reality. In Springfield and Clark County, we found the rare combination this next era requires: a ready site, a skilled workforce, a deep aerospace and defense ecosystem, and state and local leaders with the commitment and vision to build it with us. We are grateful to the City of Springfield, Clark County, and the State of Ohio for welcoming Electra into this community as we prepare to bring the EL9 Ultra Short into production, through certification, and ultimately into service.
The EL9 Ultra Short is a nine-passenger hybrid-electric fixed-wing aircraft designed to take off and land in distances of around 150 feet using blown-lift technology. Electra says the aircraft is intended for short, point-to-point operations from locations including small airfields and other compact landing sites.
Electra selected Springfield following a year-long site selection process that evaluated more than 140 locations across the United States. The company cited workforce availability, manufacturing infrastructure, opportunities for future expansion and proximity to aerospace and defence expertise among the factors influencing its decision.
The Dayton-Springfield region is home to the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport and the FAA-approved SkyVision detect-and-avoid system, which supports beyond visual line of sight flight testing. The area also benefits from its proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air Force Research Laboratory.
The project will receive support through state and local incentive programmes linked to job creation, workforce development and infrastructure investment. Electra intends to apply for a Job Creation Tax Credit from the Ohio Department of Development, while JobsOhio has also indicated it plans to provide financial assistance once agreements are finalised.
