Lockheed Martin-backed Electra.aero on Tuesday announced that it topped 2,000 preorder sales for its flagship eSTOL design, an order book the manufacturer values at over $8 billion once fully realized. The nine-seat aircraft is unique, even among electric designs, because of its ability to take off or land with just 150 feet of runway.

Electra reached the milestone after wrapping up three sizable agreements. In December, Finnish on-demand flying platform Lygg agreed to buy up to 300 eSTOLs in a deal valued at over $1 billion. Lygg operators, which mainly serve airports outside Nordic and European metropolises, will be able to purchase the aircraft through a hybrid-as-a-service model, which offers financing.

“Electra’s eSTOL capability allows us to rewrite the definition of direct connections for environmentally conscious business travelers using existing airfields closer to city centers, reducing valuable time spent in the air,” said Roope Kekäläinen, CEO of Lygg.

The company’s order book expanded again last week, when Indian private charter marketplace JetSetGo placed firm orders for 50 aircraft apiece from Electra, Overair, and Horizon Aircraft. Electra will work with the firm, which operates India’s largest on-demand fleet, to identify new routes that can leverage the eSTOL’s unique capabilities.

“India’s geography and demographics make it an ideal launch market for advanced air mobility (AAM),” said Kanika Tekriwal, co-founder and CEO of JetSetGo. “We want to lead the transformation of urban and regional connectivity and believe Electra is the right partner with the technology to make this vision a reality.”

The third agreement, with New York City-based helicopter tour operator Charm Aviation, had not been previously announced. Electra did not disclose the number of aircraft included in Charm’s order, but it said the operator will introduce the eSTOL to heliports and vertiports in bustling Manhattan.

“Electra’s aircraft has the range to transform New York City’s heliports from urban flight terminals into regional transport hubs with direct flights to cities and smaller communities along the East Coast,” said Marc Ausman, chief product officer of Electra.

The Aircraft

Electra says its eSTOL represents the first use of blown lift technology using distributed electric propulsion. Blown lift—which redirects slipstream flows over the aircraft’s wings into large flaps and ailerons—is what allows the design to take off from sites smaller than a soccer field.

Flaps and ailerons redirect the airflows downward to provide lift that would normally be achieved through high-speed takeoff. This, Electra says, allows the eSTOL to get airborne at “neighborhood driving speeds,” shortening the runway requirement and opening up operations out of remote or underutilized airfields.

The aircraft has a range of about 434 nm and a cruise speed of 175 knots, capable of carrying nine passengers or up to 2,500 pounds of cargo. Compared to vertical takeoff designs, it offers more than twice the payload, 10 times the range, and 70 percent lower operating costs, Electra claims.

Those benefits stem in part from distributed electric propulsion, wherein a small turbogenerator drives eight electric motors spread across the wing. Electra says this reduces emissions (by 30 percent) and noise (75 dBA at 300 feet, equivalent to a vacuum cleaner) below those of traditional airplanes or rotorcraft.

Since the aircraft uses hybrid power to fuel up—and to recharge its batteries during flight—airports won’t need electric charging infrastructure to accommodate it. That could be a crucial advantage for Electra when it comes time for the company to scale.

The eSTOL’s fixed-wing, rigid-propeller configuration—which eliminates hover and transition flight—gives it a path to be certified as a multiengine, Level 3, low-speed airplane under FAA Part 23. That means it could be flown with a standard pilot’s certificate in the airplane category.

In addition to passenger transport, on-demand urban air mobility services, and defense applications, Electra expects the eSTOL to handle cargo logistics, executive transport, humanitarian aid, disaster response, and a variety of other use cases. Its commercial launch is planned for 2028.

Topping the 2,000 preorder mark reflects the steady momentum Electra has enjoyed in recent months. That began in August with the announcement of fresh financing from climate tech fund Statkraft Ventures and the U.S. Air Force, the latter taking the form of an $85 million contract to develop and test a full-scale prototype. The following month, Electra completed the maiden voyage of its EL-2 Goldfinch demonstrator, marking the first flight for a hybrid eSTOL design.

December brought with it a major agreement with JSX, one of the world’s premier regional air carriers, which ordered as many as 330 hybrid-electric models. Those include 32 firm orders and 50 options for Electra’s nine-seater. The same month, customer Bristow Group placed a deposit for five early delivery slots for its 2021 order of up to 50 aircraft, representing one of Electra’s firmest commitments to date.

Bristow is expected to be Electra’s principal launch operational customer. The company at launch also has agreements to fly in the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Australia, among other locations.

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The deal includes an option to buy an additional 50 Alia eVTOLs, designed to carry payloads up to 1,400 pounds or five passengers and a pilot. 

“We designed Alia with reliability, efficiency, and the highest-value cargo in mind, all of which are central to the types of critical missions Bristow carries out on a global stage,” said Kyle Clark, Beta founder and CEO. “Over the past few months, we’ve made strides with our flight test program, proving the aircraft is capable of performing in conditions it will see in service. We are gratified by Bristow’s confidence in our continued progress, and we look forward to partnering to provide a safe and sustainable system to transform regional transport

• READ MORE: Electric Aircraft Flies Across Six States

First revealed in 2020, Alia is Beta’s second-generation eVTOL test article. It’s a single-prop pusher with a 50-foot wing and V-tail. The aircraft is designed to achieve vertical lift during takeoff and landing from four fixed rotors. Alia is being developed for multiple advanced air mobility (AAM) roles, including cargo, medical transport, and passenger transportation. Beta says the aircraft will be capable of carrying a pilot and cargo—or four passengers—as far as 250 nm on a single charge. Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW): 6,999 pounds. 

Beta is one of a handful of eVTOL startups currently flight testing entirely new electric aircraft designs, aimed at providing effective and reliable zero-emission transportation.

“This order firmly positions Bristow as an early adopter and leader in pragmatically developing AAM operations and ushering in a new era in vertical lift solutions,” said Dave Stepanek, Bristow executive vice president and chief transformation officer. “By leveraging our 70-plus years of expertise as a leader in vertical lift, we plan to use the Beta Alia to safely and reliably move passengers and time-sensitive cargo as part of the development of new regional mobility networks in the U.S. and other strategic locations.”

Although it doesn’t expect to achieve FAA aircraft type certification for Alia until 2024, Beta has already announced purchase agreements with UPS Flight Forward (NYSE:UPS) and Blade Urban Air Mobility (NASDAQ:BLDE). 

The post Bristow Group Places Firm Order for Beta Technologies eVTOLs appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Announced at this week’s Farnborough International Airshow in England, the Houston,Texas-based Bristow Group has signed a non-binding agreement with an option to buy 50 zero-emission Lilium Jet air taxis. The deal also calls for Bristow to provide maintenance services for the Lilium Jet’s anticipated launch in Florida, as well as other future markets. 

Bristow—which has a long history of offering helicopter service to and from offshore oil and gas rigs located around the world—says it is “actively transforming its business to embrace innovative and sustainable technology including eVTOL aircraft.” According to its website, Bristow boasts 229 aircraft in its fleet, including four classes of helicopters. 

Lilium has been flight testing its fifth-generation Phoenix 2 demonstrator aircraft this summer at ATLAS Flight Center in Villacarrillo, Spain. Lilium says type certification for its Lilium Jet production aircraft is expected in time for it to enter service in 2025.  

• READ MORE: Lilium Makes Key Choice on Electrical Distribution System

Lilium Partners with ASL

Interest in the emerging eVTOL sector has largely been driven by the push by many countries—especially in Europe—to reach net zero fuel emission goals in the coming decades.

Lilium also chose this week to announce a deal with leading business jet operator ASL Group at Farnborough. ASL, which has locations at most airports across Belgium and the Netherlands, said it intends to buy six Lilium Jets and will support development of Lilium landing sites in the Benelux region—Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg—as well as Western Germany. 

“With the highest population density in Europe, Benelux represents a perfect use case for eVTOL transportation, and we are proud to support ASL’s development in the region,” said Lilium CEO Daniel Wiegand in a released statement.  

About the Aircraft

While most other eVTOL prototypes that are currently undergoing flight testing are propelled vertically and horizontally by tilt-rotor systems, the Lilium Jet’s design uses an array of 30 ducted fans embedded across the aircraft’s wings and forward canards.

The post Lilium Strikes Deals with Bristow and ASL appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Bristow Group and Electra.aero signed an agreement Thursday that commits the two companies to collaborate on Electra’s hybrid-electric short take-off and landing (eSTOL) aircraft.

Electra expects to deliver 50 of these low-emission aircraft to Bristow.

“Just as Bristow pioneered the vertical transportation market some 70+ years ago, this [agreement] sets the stage for early collaboration and development between Bristow and Electra for a new class of aircraft that will allow us to take advantage of the unique capabilities of electric and hybrid power generation technologies to substantially lower carbon emissions and operating costs,” Bristow President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Bradshaw said in a statement.

The aircraft will be able to operate from runways as small as 300×100 feet using a proprietary blown-lift technology where eight engines provide additional wing lift. Hybrid-electric power will also provide internal recharging capabilities for aircraft batteries, eliminating the need for new ground infrastructure.

It is being designed to transport up to 1,800 pounds of cargo or move five to seven passengers about 400 to 500 miles. It’ll be able to operate in a variety of environments ranging from busy urban areas to remote landing strips, and fly missions including:

• On-demand intracity flights to medical missions
• Cargo transportation
• Scheduled passenger service

The two companies will collaborate on safety and operational features to ensure the new eSTOL aircraft’s final configuration, specifications and design features meet customer as well as FAA, EASA and Transport Canada certification and timeline requirements.

They’ll also explore new markets for Bristow operations. A focus will be put on “middle-mile” logistics for retail distribution.

Bristow currently operates a fleet of about 240 aircraft for air mobility transport, including for: *Oil and gas customers*Search and rescue (SAR)*Government and civil organizations

“This will allow us to expand our expertise providing sustainable, innovative and efficient vertical lift and aerial transport solutions into new potential end markets like moving time-sensitive cargo and passengers regionally,” Bradshaw said.

John Langford, founder and chief executive officer of Electra.aero, also expressed excitement about the union.

“Bristow’s deep experience operating aircraft across a variety of missions is an excellent complement to the Electra team’s extensive experience in designing and building innovative aircraft,” Langford said.

“This collaboration will lead to a more rigorous aircraft capable of addressing operators’ needs across a variety of use cases and will help Electra develop and certify an eSTOL aircraft in as short a period of time as possible.”

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