MANASSAS, Va. – A small plane carrying 27 rescued animals touched down at the APP Jet Center in Manassas on Wednesday afternoon, marking another mission by Pilots To The Rescue.
Onboard were 15 cats and 12 dogs transported from overcrowded shelters in Birmingham, Alabama. The flight was made possible by the BISSELL Pet Foundation and volunteers like pilot Paul Mamauag and his co-pilot Mackenzie.
“A lot of these pets need rescue because unfortunately in the southern states that we have, it gets very overcrowded, especially during storms like we’ve seen in Texas and Florida,” said Mamauag. “Pets just become displaced or lost and they end up in overcrowded shelters, which unfortunately end up to euthanization.”
“Our main mission is to help rescue them from those states and move them up north to shelters that are a lot less crowded and don’t have euthanization,” he added.
The animals will be cared for by the Charles County Animal Care Center in Maryland, Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation in Virginia, and Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter in New Jersey.
“Honestly, one of my friends who’s also a volunteer rescue pilot for the El Paso Rescue Viking, he introduced me to the owner, Michael, and I hopped on a trip with him,” Mamauag said. “We went down to, I forget where, but we rescued about 35 cats that day.”
“Honestly, it was just a great feeling being able to work with them and meeting all the foster parents and the shelters and the people around. It was really inspiring and I really wanted to help out and enjoy.”
Mamauag has been a pilot for about three to four years and has flown “well over 50 missions.”
“Usually we have our typical house pets, dogs and cats, but every now and again we’ll get a couple foxes, cats, anybody that really needs help rescuing,” he said.
“Well, I believe so far we’ve done four or five this month. It’s really getting up there because of the summertime. But usually we do about once a week, once or twice a week,” he said of the mission frequency.
“Well, you can look it up on our website on podsfortherescue.org. For anyone, shelters or people looking to see if they can help move animals from those states down south to up north, that’s our biggest mean of communication,” he said. “And yeah, fantastic.”
“I love what I do, but the only reason we’re able to do what we do is due to donations of people that also love these animals,” Mamauag said. “So if you want to continue to support us, we love it and we thank you.”
MANASSAS, Va. – With construction underway and a private operator on board, Manassas is inching closer to launching commercial airline service from its regional airport. But after years of planning, the first flights won’t take off until 2026—a full year later than initially planned.
At a City Council work session on May 20, 2025, airport officials shared updates on infrastructure and federal regulatory changes that pushed the timeline. The newest airport master plan outlines major upgrades like a new terminal and improved airfield layout to accommodate commercial jets and future growth.
“We started this process back in 2021,” said Airport Director Juan Rivera, noting how commercial service shifted the city’s aviation strategy. “When we had enough information, we came forth… [and] the airport will now become a commercial service airport.”
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Led by Prysm Capital, the funding round brings on Jay Park as a new board member. The EL9 uses blown-lift and hybrid-electric technology to offer the agility of a helicopter, the quiet of an electric vehicle, and the cost-efficiency of a fixed-wing aircraft. Electra has already secured over 2,200 pre-orders worth more than $10 billion and is working with the U.S. military through multiple SBIR contracts to explore defense applications.
Electra’s CEO, Marc Allen, says the EL9 represents a leap forward in advanced air mobility, with capabilities that can transform commercial air travel and military logistics alike.
Full Press Release:
Manassas, VA, April 21, 2025 – Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra) today announced it has secured $115 million in Series B funding to enter the pre-production and certification phase of the EL9, the first-ever Ultra Short aircraft, which can take off and land in 150 feet – roughly 10% of the footprint required for similarly-sized legacy airplanes.
The round was led by Prysm Capital, and Jay Park, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Prysm, has joined Electra’s Board of Directors.
“We are delighted to welcome Jay and Prysm to the Electra family,” said Electra Board Chair John Langford. “They’ve already become an indispensable partner and advisor as we transition from prototype to product with the EL9.”
By integrating blown lift technology with hybrid-electric propulsion, Electra’s 9-passenger EL9 Ultra Short offers a range of transformative dual-use capabilities. It operates with the landing and takeoff versatility of a helicopter, the quiet of an electric vehicle, and the cost advantage and safety of a fixed-wing, fixed-propeller aircraft. With the EL9, commercial operators can connect communities that lack traditional aviation infrastructure, fly into airports with strict noise restrictions, create new opportunities and business models for cargo services, and save travelers significant time.
For defense operators, the EL9 introduces novel logistics and troop transport capabilities, including the ability to take off and land with a low signature in helicopter-sized spaces in remote, austere areas and providing mobile power capabilities while building on the safety, cost, and range advantages of a fixed-wing aircraft.
Electra has secured more than 2,200 pre-orders valued at over $10 billion for the EL9 – marking one of the largest provisional order pipelines in the commercial Advanced Air Mobility sector. Additionally, Electra has won over 20 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and NASA, and is currently performing on a Strategic Funding Increase contract with the U.S. Air Force to develop the EL9 for military use cases.
“At Electra, we are on a mission to deliver a new era of aviation, a leap forward in advanced air mobility that is both transformational and practical,” said Marc Allen, CEO of Electra. “The EL9 Ultra Short opens the door to opportunities to establish new commercial routes, connect communities currently lacking aviation infrastructure, and enable entirely novel logistics capabilities for warfighters. We look forward to working with our partners at Prysm to continue the development of this aircraft and chart a new course for aviation.”
The EL9 delivers up to 3,000 pounds of payload and a range of up to 1,100 nautical miles, with in-flight battery recharging that eliminates the need for ground charging stations. The ability to operate from compact spaces and unimproved surfaces such as grass fields, parking lots, and repurposed heliports opens new routes and economic opportunities, making regional air mobility for passengers and cargo more affordable and accessible than ever before.
“Electra’s EL9 Ultra Short is a game-changing aircraft that unlocks important new capabilities for commercial and defense users,” said Jay Park. “The EL9 is the flagship of Electra’s future family of aircraft that will transform aviation with hybrid-electric technology. We are excited to partner with Marc, John and the team in their commitment to innovating and expanding air mobility solutions.”
Lockheed Martin Ventures (NYSE: LMT), Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON), and Safran (EPA: SAF) are among Electra’s strategic investors along with Prysm Capital, Statkraft Ventures, the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), and other private investors.
Electra has grown to roughly 80 employees and established its position as the first mover and category creator in Ultra Short aviation.
About Electra
Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra) is an advanced aerospace company building hybrid-electric Ultra Short aircraft that achieve never-before performance advantages to fly people and cargo seamlessly without airports, emissions, or noise. With the Ultra Short, Electra is pioneering Direct Aviation, the next level of connectivity that brings air travel closer to where we live, work, and play. Electra’s Ultra Short technology delivers 2.5X the payload and 10X longer range with 70% lower operating costs than helicopters and eVTOLs with significantly greater safety and far less certification risk.
Electra’s team includes some of the most respected and successful entrepreneurs and engineers in novel aircraft design, with over 40 prior aircraft successfully developed and/or certified. Electra’s contracted customers include NASA, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Navy, along with over 2,200 aircraft under Letters of Intent from 50+ commercial customers, including both airlines and helicopter operators.
The Manassas Regional Airport is on the verge of a major transformation as it progresses toward becoming a Part 139 certificated airport, a designation that would allow it to offer commercial airline service. This advancement, along with ongoing modernization efforts, was a key focus of the latest Manassas City Council meeting on February 10, 2025.
Airport Commission Chairman Rod Hall underscored the significance of the upcoming certification, noting that it would place Manassas in an elite category.
"Today, the airport stands at the cusp of becoming a Part 139 certificated airport, offering commercial service, working in collaborative efforts with our partner, Avports. Our team is working up and down the certification checklist from ARF, security, and environmental assessments work to addressing current infrastructure deficiencies. All parties are working diligently towards achieving certification this year."
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Happy Friday, Manassas!
Welcome to another City Council preview, this time for the Oct. 28 regular meeting. This week’s meeting will be held at the City Hall Council Chambers at 9027 Center St.
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Ross Snare has resigned as Chairman of the Manassas Regional Airport Commission, effective Monday, October 21, 2024. His departure comes amid unverified allegations involving disparaging remarks about a city council member, adding fuel to an already heated local election season.
Snare, a Prince William County resident, was appointed to the commission by the Manassas City Council in 2018 and reappointed in 2022. He made history in June 2023 by becoming the youngest and first county Prince William County resident to serve as Chairman. During his tenure, Snare played a pivotal role in the airport's efforts to introduce commercial flights, a milestone now expected to be achieved in 2026, a year behind the initial schedule.
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Electra, a hybrid-electric aviation company, is considering Manassas as a potential location for a new production facility. According to City Councilman Mark Wolfe, this expansion could bring 1,500 jobs to the area, with average salaries of $100,000.
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Manassas Regional Airport’s plans to introduce commercial passenger jet service have hit a delay, with flights now expected to begin in 2026 instead of 2025.
On September 16, 2024, the Manassas City Council received an update from Airport Director Juan Rivera, who outlined the project's progress and the factors behind the delay. The council had unanimously approved a franchise agreement with Avports Manassas, LLC—a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs to begin commercial service by 2025. Still, unexpected infrastructure challenges have pushed back the timeline.
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Chris Strong from the National Weather Service Baltimore-Washington office noted the unusual nature of the storm, highlighting that "one of the biggest things that was more uncommon about that event was just how little wind there was in the general atmosphere for these storms to move around." This lack of atmospheric movement allowed the storms to "evolve and develop in place," leading to prolonged periods of heavy rain and persistent lightning across several areas.
Despite the severity, the region did not experience any tornadic activity. Strong explained that tornadoes generally require wind shear—an increase in wind speed and a change in direction at different altitudes—which was absent during this event. This contributed to the storm's stationary behavior, causing extended weather disturbances over the same locations.
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Manassas Regional Airport received nearly $400,000 in grant funding for several projects from the Virginia Aviation Board. The awards come as the airport is undergoing a transformation that is expected to bring commercial airline service to the city.
We expect an update on service plans next month, which could begin as early as next year. We still don't know what airline will provide the service or to which destinations.
Airport spokeswoman Jolene Berry provided more information on how the grant funding will be spent:
