On 26 October 2026 Electra flew its hybrid‑electric EL2 Goldfinch demonstrator into Downtown Skyport, a waterfront heliport in Lower Manhattan, and performed a landing and take‑off, which the company says is the first fixed‑wing operation at the site without vertical‑takeoff capability.
Electra CEO Marc Allen said: “Today we made aviation history in downtown Manhattan by landing a fixed‑wing aircraft on a heliport. What’s even more interesting is that we didn’t need to build a new runway to do it.”
The EL2 uses blown‑lift technology: electrically driven propellers push air over the wings and large flaps, increasing lift at speeds far lower than conventional aircraft and allowing a very short ground roll.
Electra’s planned nine‑passenger EL9 targets a take‑off and landing ground roll of 150 feet (about 46 m). In July 2026 the FAA established the EL9’s certification basis, setting the regulatory framework for the programme.
The company reports more than 2,200 letters of intent from over 60 commercial customers for the EL9.