Electra.aero, a developer of hybrid-electric ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft, recently announced an investment in its Series A funding round from Lockheed Martin Ventures (LMV), the venture capital arm of Lockheed Martin.
The funding will support Electra's plans to begin flight testing a full-scale hybrid eSTOL technology demonstrator aircraft later this year.
Electra's eSTOL aircraft can operate from spaces as small as 300x100 feet using its patent-pending distributed electric propulsion and blown lift technology.
A small turbine-powered generator recharges the batteries mid-flight, eliminating the need for new ground charging infrastructure.
The quieter and more environmentally friendly aircraft is currently being designed to transport up to 1,800 pounds of cargo or move seven to nine passengers up to 500 miles.
"Electra's technical approach to sustainable aviation is differentiated, and we are excited to see this concept mature," said Chris Moran, Vice President and General Manager of LMV. "We invested in Electra because of its focus on hybrid-electric technology. Hybrid-electric aircraft have the potential to deliver operational and environmental advantages over other aircraft, including increased payload and range without gambling on battery improvements. We look forward to working with the Electra team and hope to partner on opportunities in the future."
Electra's aircraft can operate in a variety of environments ranging from busy urban areas to remote landing strips, and fly missions ranging from on-demand intracity flights to medical missions, cargo transportation and scheduled passenger service.
"Hybrid-electric propulsion will influence every aspect of aviation," said John S. Langford, Founder and CEO of Electra. "We are excited to welcome Lockheed Martin Ventures as one of our strategic and key investors in our Series A funding round. Lockheed Martin is a leader in aerospace and defense, and we believe this relationship is a complementary one for Electra and Lockheed Martin. We're honored to have them on our team."
The global urban and regional advanced air mobility market that Electra serves is forecast by analysts to be valued between $250 billion and $1 trillion by 2040.
