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Electra Commits $850 Million to Build EL9 Production Plant in Springfield, Ohio

The factory is intended to scale output up to 800 aircraft a year to support a reported 2,200‑plus order book after the FAA defined the EL9’s certification basis.

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The U.S. Air Force previously awarded a Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to Electra.aero in support of the continued development of Electra's hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft. (Photo: Electra)

Overview

  • Electra announced Tuesday, July 21, that it will invest $850 million to build a 96‑acre production facility at AirPark Ohio next to Springfield‑Beckley Municipal Airport.
  • Design work begins immediately and Electra plans to start construction in 2027 on a phased plant sized for an initial 400 aircraft per year and later expansion to 800 per year.
  • The company says the factory will create about 1,975 local jobs and selected Springfield from more than 140 candidate sites because of workforce, testing infrastructure and regional aerospace assets.
  • Regulatory and technical progress underpins the decision: the FAA closed the EL9’s G‑1 issue paper this month to set the certification basis and the program is now in G‑2 compliance and test planning with a first flight target in late 2027–2028 and service aimed near 2030.
  • Electra has a production deal with Safran that includes an initial order for 250 turbogenerators and reports a 2,200‑plus letter‑of‑intent backlog, but those market and production claims depend on successful certification, testing and supply‑chain ramp-up.