DEPLOYDatabase

Robot model

EL9 Ultra Short

Nine-passenger hybrid-electric fixed-wing aircraft using blown-lift and distributed electric propulsion for ultra-short takeoff and landing (150 ft).

Track EL9 Ultra Short
Manufacturer
Electra.aero
Form factor
aerial
Maturity
prototype
Lifecycle
active
Website
electra.aero ↗

The verified answer

As of Aug 2026, DEPLOY verifies EL9 Ultra Short, a aerial by Electra.aero (prototype). 2 sources back the record.

Overview

Nine-passenger hybrid-electric fixed-wing aircraft using blown-lift and distributed electric propulsion for ultra-short takeoff and landing (150 ft). Powered by Safran TG600 turbogenerator. Designed for Direct Aviation — point-to-point regional travel avoiding overburdened airports. 10x longer range than eVTOLs (company claim). First flight anticipated late 2027 or early 2028. Production target up to 800 aircraft/year.

Verified vs. claimed

Maturity stage
prototype(Demo-capable; limited or one-off public appearances.)
Sources on file
View all sources →

No verified deployments on file. DEPLOY tracks independently-sourced deployment evidence separately from manufacturer capability claims.

Key facts

Capacity

9 passengers

Takeoff

150 feet — runway-independent

Range

10x eVTOL range (company claim)

Specs

Range

10x longer than eVTOLs (company claim)

Capacity

9 passengers

Production

Up to 800 aircraft/year

Propulsion

Hybrid-electric (Safran TG600 turbogenerator)

Technology

Blown-lift + distributed electric propulsion

First flight

Late 2027 or early 2028

Takeoff distance

150 feet (ultra-short)

Data & sources

Web sources

2

2 sources backing this record.View all →

Pricing

No verified price is on record for EL9 Ultra Short. Physical-AI systems are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price.

How DEPLOY tracks pricing

Recent activity

Every change to this record is dated, sourced, and independently verified where marked.

Full change history →

Safety record

No incidents on record for EL9 Ultra Short.

Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.

Sources (2)

  1. https://electra.aero/news/electra-to-usher-in-the-next-era-of-aviation-with-advanced-production-facility-in-springfield-ohio
  2. https://electra.aero/

Common questions

What is EL9 Ultra Short?
Nine-passenger hybrid-electric fixed-wing aircraft using blown-lift and distributed electric propulsion for ultra-short takeoff and landing (150 ft). Powered by Safran TG600 turbogenerator. Designed for Direct Aviation — point-to-point regional travel avoiding overburdened airports. 10x longer range than eVTOLs (company claim). First flight anticipated late 2027 or early 2028. Production target up to 800 aircraft/year.
How much does EL9 Ultra Short cost?
EL9 Ultra Short's price is not publicly disclosed. DEPLOY has no verified price on record for EL9 Ultra Short from Electra.aero. Physical-AI systems like this are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price; check the manufacturer for the latest.
Is EL9 Ultra Short actually deployed in the real world?
EL9 Ultra Short is at the prototype stage: it exists, but DEPLOY has no verified real-world deployment on record. Manufacturer capability claims should be read as claims pending independent verification.
Who makes EL9 Ultra Short?
EL9 Ultra Short is made by Electra.aero, based in Manassas, Virginia, USA, founded in 2020.
Can you buy EL9 Ultra Short?
EL9 Ultra Short is at prototype stage and is not yet available for sale.
What are alternatives to EL9 Ultra Short?
On the DEPLOY registry, comparable aerial robots to EL9 Ultra Short include Skydio X10, Zipline Platform 2 (P2), MQ-9 Reaper, Wing Delivery Aircraft.
How does EL9 Ultra Short compare to Skydio X10?
EL9 Ultra Short and Skydio X10 (Skydio · 20 deployments) are both aerial robots on the DEPLOY registry. EL9 Ultra Short has 0 verified deployments on record. Compare both records for specs, safety, deployments, and verified-vs-claimed autonomy.
What is EL9 Ultra Short's maturity stage?
EL9 Ultra Short is at the prototype stage on the DEPLOY maturity ladder (research, prototype, pilot, commercial, production). Prototype stage means demonstrations exist but commercial readiness is not yet established.
Where is EL9 Ultra Short deployed?
No verified deployments of EL9 Ultra Short are currently on the DEPLOY registry. DEPLOY records deployments only when verified at a named site with a primary source; absence may reflect pre-deployment, research, or manufacturer-internal use.
Is EL9 Ultra Short safe?
EL9 Ultra Short has no incidents on record in the DEPLOY registry. This does not constitute a safety guarantee; it reflects the incidents DEPLOY has tracked and verified to date.
Methodology: Unreviewed · 2 sources (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-08-17

Verification posture

Unreviewed

Low confidence

Review state

Stable

Last reviewed 2026-08-17

Maturity + lifecycle

Maturity stage: prototype

Lifecycle: active

Architectural position

Cohort: aerial

Sources by quality tier

2
unclassified
Unclassified source

The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.

Methodology surface for EL9 Ultra Short.