Electra picks Springfield for hybrid-electric aircraft factory, adding 1,975 jobs
Electra’s EL9 Ultra Short factory in Springfield puts hybrid-electric aviation on a manufacturing track. The aircraft uses blown-lift technology and can take off and land in just 150 feet.
Electra will build its first production facility for the EL9 Ultra Short in Springfield, Ohio, bringing an $850 million investment and 1,975 jobs to Clark County. The EL9 is a nine-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft that uses blown-lift technology and is designed to take off and land in as little as 150 feet.
The 96-acre facility will be located at AirPark Ohio, adjacent to Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport. Electra said the plant will support production of up to 400 aircraft per year in its first phase and up to 800 aircraft per year after a planned second phase.
The announcement was made Tuesday at the Farnborough International Airshow in England by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef, and Electra CEO Marc Allen.
Why it matters
The project adds another major manufacturing investment to Ohio’s advanced air mobility sector and gives Electra, which is headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, a base for producing an aircraft built around short-field operations, hybrid-electric propulsion and point-to-point travel.
In Ohio, "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," Nauseef said.
By the numbers
- $850 million: Investment in Springfield and Clark County.
- 1,975: New jobs.
- 400: Aircraft per year in the first phase.
- 800: Aircraft per year at full buildout.
- More than 140: Potential locations evaluated in the site-selection process.
Why Springfield
Electra said it selected Springfield after a yearlong national search that evaluated more than 140 potential locations. The company cited access to the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence, SkyVision at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport and proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air Force Research Laboratory.
What they’re saying
“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,” DeWine said.
“Electra is opening a new era of aviation, one where flight is direct, accessible, and closer to the communities it serves,” Allen added.
What’s next
Design work on the site will begin immediately, with construction expected to start next year. Electra said it will pursue a Job Creation Tax Credit from the Ohio Department of Development at a future Tax Credit Authority meeting.
The company said it has submitted the EL9 Ultra Short for FAA Part 23 type certification and expects first flight in late 2027 or early 2028.
