Advanced Air Mobility News

Electra Adds Former Airbus, Boeing Executives to Board

Electra Adds Former Airbus, Boeing Executives to Board

Electra.aero, the hybrid-electric, ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft manufacturer, has appointed James F. Albaugh and Allan McArtor to its Board of Advisors, and Kirsten Bartok Touw to the Board of Directors. 

The trio will join existing board members Paul Kaminski, General (Ret.) Bryan “Doug” Brown, Peter Joseph, and Laura O’Neill Ott in steering the company towards its goal of decarbonizing aviation and creating new air transportation opportunities through the use of Electra’s eSTOL. 

Albaugh was the Executive Vice President of the Boeing Company and President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes until retiring in 2012. Albaugh is the Chairman of the National Aeronautics Association and a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and previously was the President of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

McArtor, a decorated fighter pilot in Vietnam, was the Chairman of Airbus Americas from 2001 to 2018 and is the founder and CEO of Legend Airlines. 

Bartok Touw, meanwhile, is the co-founder and managing partner of AirFinance, a company specializing in structured finance, leasing, and financing of aircraft, with a focus on emerging markets. Additionally, she is the co-founder and managing partner of New Vista Capital, an investment firm concentrating on aerospace, space, and national security technologies. She also was a co-founder, board member, and CFO at XOJET, one of the well-known business jet airlines in the U.S.

“I am thrilled to welcome Jim, Allan, and Kirsten to the Electra Board at this important time in the development of our eSTOL aircraft. They bring deep understanding of the industry and an invaluable perspective on aircraft development, operation, finance, and regulation to the team,” said John Langford, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Electra.

McArtor sees “a straightforward path to certification” for Electra’s eSTOL aircraft, while Bartok Touw said the company is “transforming the $150 billion Advanced Air Mobility market by delivering the most flexible, efficient and cost-effective solution for urban and regional transport.”

In January 2023, Electra raised USD$85 million in investment, including USD$30 million from the U.S. Air Force AFWERX program, to develop a full-scale prototype of its electric aircraft. 

Electra’s eSTOL can carry nine passengers a total distance of 400 nautical miles (740 km) at a cruise speed of 175 knots (324 kph). 


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