Electra, the Virginia-based startup developing an ultra-short takeoff and landing hybrid aircraft, announced on September 15, 2026, that it has selected Atlas Group to manufacture and assemble the airframes which will be used in the manufacturer’s flight test and certification program.
Based in Wichita, Kansas, the Atlas Group is a vertically integrated industrial firm which delivers engineering and advanced manufacturing solutions for the aerospace and defense industries.
In a press release announcing the agreement, Electra explained that the move de-risks the industrial component of the EL9’s path to certification since it taps into Atlas’ well-established knowledge of aerostructures.
It is worth noting that the agreement appears to only cover the production of a limited number of EL9 airframes, which will be used for testing and certification purposes. At a later stage, Electra plans to serially manufacture the EL9 at its own manufacturing facility, which will be located in Springfield, Ohio.
The two companies, however, have pledged to work closely together to mature the EL9 production architecture and build the industrial foundation needed to scale output after certification.
Since work on the test airframes will start immediately, the first EL9 airframes could be delivered as early as Q1 2027, according to Electra.
Electra has been testing a small-scale demonstrator called EL2 Goldfinch since 2023. EL2 Goldfinch seats two people instead of the nine passengers plus one or two pilots of the EL9.