Heart Aerospace’s X1 demonstrator aircraft successfully took off and landed at Plattsburgh International Airport on 13 August, marking a milestone for the aircraft manufacturer as it advances electric flight into the airliner category
The piloted flight of Heart Aerospace’s X1 demonstrator aircraft lasted 27 minutes. The all-electric aircraft reached an altitude of 1,100 feet with its propulsion system delivering more than one megawatt of power.
The X1 demonstrator was first authorised for flight testing by the Federal Ain July
Heart Aerospace X1 demonstrator certified in FAA’s special experimental category
Anders Forslund, Founder and CEO at Heart Aerospace, explained, “The mission was designed to demonstrate all-electric flight at scale relevant to commercial airline operations.” It also comes at a time when global jet fuel prices are soaring, underlining the growing importance of battery-electric propulsion to the future of flight. With fuel prices currently averaging US$ 3.50 per gallon, up 63% year-on-year, the case for electric propulsion has rarely looked more pressing
Conducted under an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate Experimental Category (SAC-EC), the test mission included taxi, take-off, climb, manoeuvring, and landing
While SAC-EC certification is a critical milestone, Heart Aerospace’s conventional fixed-wing 30-seater ES-30 regional aircraft will require full Part 25 certification to carry passengers commercially. Similarly, while the X1 was fully electric, the ES-30 is a hybrid design
The X1 demonstrator, which measures 76 ft in length and 24 ft in height, features a 106 ft wingspan and a take-off weight of 25,000+ lbs. The test flight was launched within a controlled envelope focused on low-altitude, all-electric operations, with a maximum speed of 140 kts and a maximum altitude of 2,000 AGL
Heart targets 2031 entry into service for ES-30
Heart is developing the first pre-production ES-30 at its plant in Los Angeles, with flight testing scheduled to begin in 2028 and entry into service targeted for 2031
“Electric commercial aircraft have the potential to fundamentally reshape airline economics and ultimately, lower the cost of air travel for passengers,” added Forslund
Heart Aerospace’s vision, he continued, is to enable more affordable, frequent and cleaner air service to and from regional airports through the electrification of flight
Air Canada and United Airlines committed to Heart’s ES-30
United Airlinesis among the first customers to commit to Heart Aerospace’s hybrid-electric regional aircraft, having originally placed an intent to order 100 of its earlier 19-seat ES-19 models in 2021, before more recently converting that commitment to the hybrid-electric ES-30 model
“Electric commercial aircraft have real potential to deliver a better travel experience for passengers while strengthening our business, and we look forward to Heart’s continued development of the ES-30 and its potential future role in United’s network,” said Michael Leskinen, CFO of United Airlines
Similarly, John Di Bert, Executive Vice President and CFO of Air Canada, said the Canadian carrier’s investment in Heart Aerospace and the ES-30 reflects the carrier’s “commitment to supporting innovative technologies that have the potential to transform aurney, and we look forward to continuing to work with Heart Aerospace as the ES-30 program progresses and plays its part in the future of regional a
Collectively, customer commitments from commercial carriers, including United Airlines and Air Canada, currently amount to $9.4 billion
How hybrid-electric flight will keep costs down
Heart expects the ES-30to reduce operating costs by more than 40% compared with legacy regional aircraft. Lower energy costs, reduced maintenance requirements from simplified electric propulsion and flight systems and greater aircraft uptime will achieve this
“Through the X1 programme, Heart has built the capability to design, build, test, operate and continuously improve a clean-sheet electric commercial aircraft,” said Ben Stabler, Heart’s Chief Technology Officer. “We are carrying that full-stack capability directly into the ES-30, our first production aircraft, and the foundation of a broader technology platform for electric airliners.”
Enjoy reading about hybrid-electric flight? Read more hereEnjoy reading about hybrid-electric flight? Read more here
News
Air TransportSustainabilityall-electricHeart AerospaceHeart Aerospace ES-30SustainabilityX1 demonstrator
Sign up for our newsletter and get our latest content in your
inbox.
1
Russia begins deliveries of import-substituted Il-114-300 turboprops
Russia begins deliveries of import-substituted Il-114-300 turboprops
Ilyushin Il-114-300
August 17, 2026
2
Aviation’s turbulence problem is growing: Here’s how airlines are fighting back
Aviation’s turbulence problem is growing: Here’s how airlines are fighting…
Turbulence
August 16, 2026
3
Can you take a power bank on a plane? Airline rules for lithium batteries explained
Can you take a power bank on a plane? Airline…
Aviation safety
August 15, 2026
4
Ryanair vs Southwest: We tracked two Boeing 737-800s for a week to see which flew more
Ryanair vs Southwest: We tracked two Boeing 737-800s for a…
Boeing 737-800
August 15, 2026
Related Topics
More from
Russia begins deliveries of import-substituted Il-114-300 turbopropsRussia begins deliveries of import-substituted Il-114-300 turboprops
August 17, 2026
Aviation’s turbulence problem is growing: Here’s how airlines are fighting backAviation’s turbulence problem is growing: Here’s how airlines are fighting back
August 16, 2026
Can you take a power bank on a plane? Airline rules for lithium batteries explainedCan you take a power bank on a plane? Airline rules for lithium batteries explained
August 15, 2026
Ryanair vs Southwest: We tracked two Boeing 737-800s for a week to see which flew moreRyanair vs Southwest: We tracked two Boeing 737-800s for a week to see which flew more
August 15, 2026
New helicopter approach cuts Bengaluru arrival time from 12 minutes to four
New helicopter approach cuts Bengaluru arrival time from 12 minutes to four
August 16, 2026
India takes steps to join France-led FCAS sixth-generation fighter programme
India takes steps to join France-led FCAS sixth-generation fighter programme
August 14, 2026
India launches $10bn competition for 60 military aircraft as C-390 and C-130J face off
India launches $10bn competition for 60 military aircraft as C-390 and C-130J face off
August 13, 2026
Why sonic booms happen and how NASA’s X-59 Quesst plans to eliminate them
Why sonic booms happen and how NASA’s X-59 Quesst plans to eliminate them
August 11, 2026
Russia begins deliveries of import-substituted Il-114-300 turbopropsRussia begins deliveries of import-substituted Il-114-300 turboprops
August 17, 2026
F-35 vs Su-57: How the stealth fighters compare
F-35 vs Su-57: How the stealth fighters compare
August 16, 2026
India takes steps to join France-led FCAS sixth-generation fighter programmeIndia takes steps to join France-led FCAS sixth-generation fighter programme
August 14, 2026
US has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reapers in war with Iran, at a potential cost of more than $1.3bn
US has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reapers in war with Iran, at a potential cost of more than $1.3bn
August 14, 2026
NASA unveils new Boeing 777 airborne research laboratory as replacement for its vintage DC-8
NASA unveils new Boeing 777 airborne research laboratory as replacement for its vintage DC-8
August 14, 2026
Vertical Aerospace secures $100m financing commitments to advance Valo towards certification
Vertical Aerospace secures $100m financing commitments to advance Valo towards certification
August 11, 2026
eSAF could solve aviation’s fuel problem. So why is almost nobody making it?
eSAF could solve aviation’s fuel problem. So why is almost nobody making it?
August 7, 2026
Why is sustainable aviation fuel so scarce and expensive?Why is sustainable aviation fuel so scarce and expensive?
August 1, 2026
