Electra plans to invest $850 million in a new aircraft production facility in Springfield, Ohio, that is expected to create 1,975 jobs. The plant will manufacture the company’s nine-passenger EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft and could eventually produce as many as 800 aircraft annually.
The 96-acre facility will be developed at AirPark Ohio next to Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport. Design work will begin immediately, while construction is scheduled to begin in 2027.
The first phase is planned to support production of as many as 400 aircraft per year. A second development phase would double annual capacity to as many as 800 aircraft.
Electra selected Springfield after a yearlong process evaluating more than 140 potential locations. The company considered workforce availability, infrastructure, expansion capacity, incentives and proximity to aerospace, defense and advanced manufacturing expertise.
The EL9 uses hybrid-electric propulsion and blown-lift technology to take off and land in approximately 150 feet. Electra is developing the aircraft for passenger transportation, commercial mobility, military logistics and humanitarian operations.
The company calls its proposed transportation model Direct Aviation. The concept is intended to connect travelers directly between smaller access points, including compact airfields and potentially locations such as parking areas, barges and sports fields.
Electra expects the aircraft to address trips between approximately 50 and 250 flying miles that are not adequately served by conventional airlines. Its market analysis estimated that meeting potential U.S. demand could require between 12,000 and 16,000 aircraft from 2030 through 2040.
The Dayton-Springfield region provides infrastructure for advanced air mobility development and testing. Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport hosts the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence and SkyVision, an FAA-approved ground-based system supporting beyond-visual-line-of-sight flight testing.
The area is also located near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Electra believes this concentration of research, engineering and manufacturing capabilities will support aircraft certification and scaled production.
The investment is expected to receive state and local support tied to employment, workforce development and infrastructure. Electra plans to apply for an Ohio Job Creation Tax Credit, while JobsOhio expects to provide additional assistance after a final agreement is completed.
The incentives remain subject to negotiation, approvals and final documentation. The facility’s full development and production targets will also depend on aircraft certification, customer demand and execution of the company’s manufacturing plans.
Electra raised $115 million in Series B funding in 2025 to support pre-production and certification, with Prysm Capital leading the round. The company has also entered a life-of-program agreement with Safran Helicopter Engines covering the TG600 turbogenerator, including an initial order for 250 units.
The EL9 has been submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration for Part 23 type certification. Electra anticipates completing the aircraft’s first flight in late 2027 or early 2028, although that schedule remains subject to development and regulatory progress.
Electra will retain operations at its existing facilities in Manassas, Virginia. The Virginia and Ohio campuses will collectively support development, certification, production and future commercial operations.
KEY QUOTES:
“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.”
“The first era of aviation began right here in the greater Dayton region. It is fitting that aviation’s next era will be built here too, in Springfield and Clark County, where Electra will produce groundbreaking aircraft designed to transform the way people travel.”
Marc Allen, CEO of Electra
“Ohio is where flight began, and the Dayton-Springfield area has become the national epicenter for advanced air mobility, the place where the next generation of aircraft is being designed, tested, and now built at scale.”
“Electra’s decision to bring nearly 2,000 new jobs to Springfield will be transformative for Clark County, demonstrating Ohio’s unique ability to lead America into aviation’s next era.”
Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio
“JobsOhio and our partners at the Dayton Development Coalition are proud to welcome Electra’s first point-to-point hybrid-electric aircraft production facility to Ohio.”
“Here, Electra will have direct access to the nation’s premier AAM testing infrastructure, a proven aerospace workforce, a deep manufacturing supply chain and the unmatched research capabilities of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, an ideal environment to innovate, scale and grow for decades to come.”
J.P. Nauseef, President and CEO of JobsOhio
“This is a landmark moment for Electra and for aviation. Building a new category of aircraft takes conviction at every step, and the Electra team has delivered on each one.”
“We’re proud to be their partner as the EL9 goes from proving what’s possible to producing it.”
Jay Park, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Prysm Capital
