Electra.aero, a Virginia-based startup developing a hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft, has announced that Statkraft Ventures has become an investor.
Statkraft Ventures is the venture capital (VC) arm of Statkraft, a Norwegian energy company and European leader in renewable energy production specializing in cleantech investments.
Electra is betting on the short takeoff and landing capabilities of the aircraft it is developing in order to gain a foothold in the commuter and regional air transport market, as well as opening up new markets that are currently mostly served by land transport.
The nine-seater aircraft will be capable of operating from runways as short as 150 feet (45 meters) with low levels of noise.
On June 13, 2023, Electra unveiled the first demonstrator, called EL-2 Goldfinch, with which it aims to start a test campaign later this summer.
