Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Oamk) announced on March 18, 2026, that it has purchased the Elektra TraineOulu University of Applied Sciences (Oamk) announced on March 18, 2026, its acquisition of the Elektra Trainer, a state-of-the-art, fully electric aircraft developed by German aerospace innovator Elektra Solar GmbH. The further development and production of the Elektra Trainer have been carried out in cooperation with its subsidiary, Jiangsu Shengyi Aviation Technology Co., Ltd., in Suqian. With this decision, Oamk is positioning itself as a pioneer in sustainable aviation and reinforcing its commitment to innovative, future-oriented flight training and research.
“Our mission is to advance the research of sustainable and smart aviation. This acquisition allows us to move beyond simulation. Testing this technology with the next generation of pilots ensures that the transition to low-carbon logistics starts with research of opportunities. We are particularly excited about our upcoming experiments in Pudasjärvi, where we will collaborate with the local aviation high school”, comments Kimmo Paajanen, Research Program Lead at Oamk.
Over 5200 km air circuit: From Bavaria to the Northern Finland
To celebrate this milestone and demonstrate the real-world viability of emission-free flight, the aircraft will embark on a historic 5200 km aerial tour. This aerial expedition, going by the name of “North Circuit – From Alps to the Arctic“, takes off from Memmingen, South Germany close to the peaks of the Alps and runs through East Germany into Sweden, reaching Oulu, then Pudasjärvi as its northernmost waypoint. The journey will continue to Kuhmo in Eastern Finland (Kainuu) before returning to Germany via the Baltic states and Poland covering a minimum distance of 5200 km via direct flight paths. Typical daily flight distances range from 500 to 620 kilometers.
This ambitious expedition marks the first time a certified electric aircraft of this class has attempted a trans-European transit of such scale, powered entirely by electricity.
Timo Hyvönen, Specialist Researcher at Oamk comments:
“Aviation has always been about optimisation of margins, but electric flight changes the math entirely. Navigating more than 5200 km route through varying altitudes, serious weather and maritime corridors is the ultimate verification of our energy-management theories. We are not just moving an aircraft; we are collecting the data that will define the next century of flight. “
Highlights of the mission are three critical open-sea crossings, showcasing the real-world potential of electric aviation. The current plan includes the following crossings:
· Germany-Sweden: Müritz via Rügen to Malmö
· Gulf of Botnia: Umeå (Sweden) to Vaasa (Finland)
· Gulf of Finland: Finland to Estonia
Not just a prototype
The Elektra Trainer features a dual-redundant electric drive system along with two onboard 6 kW chargers, connected to a Type 2 standard input.
“By plugging into standard industrial outlets at airfields across Europe, the flight crew will prove that electric aviation does not require specialised, multi-million-dollar infrastructure to begin operations”, explains Uwe Nortmann, Head of Training and Flight-Test at Elektra Solar.
“The Elektra Trainer represents the absolute latest in electric flying technology. It is not a prototype; it is a fully certified, serial-production aircraft that delivers high performance and silent operation. This 5200 km mission proves that our certified systems are ready for the most demanding environments in the world”, Uwe adds.
The aircraft, the technology and many details about the aerial tour will be presented on 11 July 2026 at the Finnish Aeronautical Association experimental event in Kuhmo.
Raphael Giesecke, Head of Sales, Nordics at Elektra Solar sees the future of electric aviation as bright.
“This acquisition by Oamk is a significant opening to the Nordics. We see this as the beginning of a new era for regional aviation in Northern Europe, where the potential for clean, quiet, and cost-effective flight is immense. This record flight is the just first chapter of that story”, Raphael comments.
An electric aircraft will be acquired as part of the SAAC research project, which is carried out in collaboration between the University of Oulu (coordinator) and Oulu University of Applied Sciences. The project is funded by the Council of Oulu Region through the European Regional Development Fund (JTF). The North Circuit aviation tour is part of the EU co-funded SÄIHKE project, implemented in cooperation with the City of Kuhmo.
Elektra Trainer as a Versatile Research Platform (ET-RP)
Elektra Solar Team is proud to announce that the Elektra Trainer has found its first customer as a dedicated research platform.
“Elektra Solar emerged from the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics at the German Aerospace Center (DLR-RM) and remains strongly rooted in the research landscape. Over the past 14 years, the company has participated in multiple R&D projects in cooperation with DLR-RM and other academic partners. Our team is made up of engineers and researchers with decades of experience in acquiring and conducting research projects within German and European research programs.
This experience has enabled us to create a unique Research Platform based on the Elektra Trainer (ET-RP). Thanks to the ET-RP’s dedicated mechanical, electrical, and software interfaces, students and researchers can integrate their own hardware and software into the aircraft and carry out training activities and research experiments with unprecedented ease.
The ET-RP can serve as a universal tool for studying and researching a wide range of subjects, from aircraft-related topics such as flight control and autonomous flight to applications for both manned and unmanned aerial systems. We understand the goals and needs of research institutions and can support researchers not only with our ET-RP, but also through our active participation in research projects as a project partner or subcontractor. With our integrated team of colleagues in Germany and China, we provide professional support to research institutions across Europe and Asia.
We are honored to support the team at Oamk and look forward to exciting cooperation in the field of electric aviation,” summarizes Konstantin Kondak, CEO of Elektra Solar and Senior Researcher at DLR-RM.
