Also: Archer Takes On Hawthorne Airport, Saudi GACA, Soyuz Return, Push To Invest In SAF Electra is walking its EL9 hybrid-electric aircraft into the formal certification phase, filing its application with the FAA to begin the Part 23 process. Work with the FAA now shifts from compliance in development to acceptance of the certification plan and building out the test program. “This certification application signals that the EL9 is fast becoming a reality and reflects the progress our team and the FAA have made together,” said Electra CEO Marc Allen. EVIO has unveiled the product of more than eight years of rigorous development: the EVIO 810 hybrid-electric regional aircraft… and a lengthy list of customers to go with it. The Montreal-based company has secured conditional agreements and options for 450 airplanes, setting the stage for an entry into service in the early 2030s. The clean-sheet design is backed by investment from Boeing and supported technically by Pratt & Whitney Canada. The VX4 program has borne new fruit in the Valo, a 6-passenger eVTOL from Vertical Aerospace. The Valo is an offshoot of the VX4, which has long been the face of Vertical’s eVTOL efforts. They’ve done some pretty solid flights in their test regime, taking off in real-world conditions and hovering around the tarmac a bit. All this — and MORE in today’s episode of Airborne-NextGen!!!