| EL-2 Goldfinch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The EL-2 entering a turn | |
| Role | Hybrid electric aircraft, STOL |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Electra.aero |
| First flight | November 11, 2023 [1] |
| Number built | 1 |
The Electra EL-2 Goldfinch is a technology demonstrator developed by American startup Electra.aero. The EL-2 is a hybrid electric aircraft with distributed propulsion for short takeoff and landing (STOL).
Electra creator John Langford founded Aurora Flight Sciences in 1989, sold to Boeing in 2017. [2]
The first test flight happened on November 11, 2023, all-electric powered, from Manassas Regional Airport in Virginia. [3] On November 17, it flew again for 23 minutes, powered by its hybrid-electric drivetrain, reaching 3,200 ft (980 m). [3] Electra.aero wants to develop a nine passenger-aircraft (or 2,500 lb (1,100 kg) of cargo) capable of operating from an area soccer field-sized with a 150 ft (46 m) ground roll, for a 500 mi (800 km) range. The company aims to fly a full-scale prototype in 2026, then a certification test aircraft targeted for a 2028 introduction. [3]
By late April 2024, the demonstrator had flown for over 10 hours and had achieved 150 ft (46 m) landings and 175 ft (53 m) takeoffs. [2] Its longest flight exceeded 1.5 hrs, its highest altitude reached was 6,500 ft (2,000 m), and its lowest speed achieved is 25 kn (46 km/h). [2] Electra.aero envisions a 200-seat turboelectric airliner for 2040, for which it has submitted a proposal for the NASA Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability. [2]
Electra.aero uses a hybrid powertrain as lithium-ion batteries pack not enough energy, only 170 Wh/kg in the Pipistrel Velis Electro in 2020, approaching 235 Wh/kg at the pack level for 2025. [2] The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has launched the Propel-1K program to demonstrate a 1,000 Wh/kg (1,600 kJ/lb) cell by mid-2025. [2]
The Goldfinch has a turbogenerator in the nose for hybrid propulsion and battery packs under the floor for all-electric operation. [3] It has a two-person cockpit and a gross weight of 3,100 lb (1,400 kg). [3] To take off at 30–35 kn (56–65 km/h), it has a blown-lift wing, generating a pitching moment balanced by a large T-tail. [3] It has a modified Cessna 172 wing, and its 150 kW (200 hp) powertrain employs a helicopter auxiliary power unit while its battery packs handle peak power. [2] The EL2 is quieter than a conventional turbine aircraft, generating 75 decibels of noise at 300 ft (91 m) and 55 dBAs at 500 ft (150 m). [4] [5]
Data from Aviation Week [3]
General characteristics
Performance