Hunch Mobility, a joint venture between helicopter operator Blade Air Mobility and investment firm Hunch Ventures, intends to operate regional air services in India using Electra Aero’s hybrid-electric EL9 “Ultra Short” aircraft. The two companies formalized their partnership by signing a memorandum of understanding on January 22 at the Urban Air Mobility Expo 2025 event held near New Delhi.

Electra’s EL9 is a planned short takeoff and landing (STOL) airplane that the company says will be able to operate quietly using runways less than 150 feet long. Configured for either commuters or cargo, the EL9 can carry up to nine passengers or 3,000 pounds of payload to a range of 330 nm. 

Under their new partnership, Hunch Mobility and Electra will explore possible flight routes for an on-demand air taxi network across India, targeting congested areas where they can take full advantage of the EL9’s STOL capabilities, according to Electra. 

“This partnership combines Electra’s innovative aircraft technology with Hunch Mobility’s operational expertise and market presence to deliver cleaner, quieter, and faster transportation options that address India’s pressing mobility challenges,” said Marc Ausman, Electra’s vice president of sales and support.

Virginia-based Electra has been flying a two-seat demonstrator aircraft called the EL2 Goldfinch since 2023, and the company revealed the design for the production EL9 model in November 2024. 

The EL9 airplane sports a blown-wing design with eight wing-mounted electric propulsion units. Electra chose to use a blown-lift architecture to enable steep takeoffs and landings at speeds as slow as 35 knots. Four independent battery packs power the aircraft’s distributed electric propulsion system, and a Safran TG 600 turbogenerator charges the batteries during flight. 

While the hybrid system can use jet fuel or sustainable aviation fuel to recharge the batteries, operators can also charge the EL9 with power from the grid in places where chargers are available. That versatility, combined with the ability to utilize small spaces to take off and land, makes the EL9 a fitting solution for India’s fast-growing and extremely congested transportation market. 

“Our partnership with Electra represents a significant step forward in our mission to reduce travel friction and offer cost-effective air transportation alternatives,” said Hunch Mobility managing director Amit Dutta. “The EL9 aircraft will enable us to expand our services and provide a seamless transition to electric air mobility for our customers.”

In 2023, Hunch Mobility partnered with Embraer subsidiary Eve Air Mobility to lay the groundwork for an eVTOL air taxi network across India, with initial routes launching in Bangalore. Hunch Mobility previously agreed to purchase up to 200 of Eve’s four-passenger eVTOL aircraft, which could see certification in 2026, along with the company’s urban air traffic management software. Hunch and Electra have not yet disclosed any purchase agreements as part of the new partnership.