Heart Aerospace’s X1 demonstrator aircraft has successfully completed its first flight, marking a significant milestone in the company’s push to bring electric propulsion to commercial aviation. The full-scale demonstrator is reportedly the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown, weighing more than 25,000 pounds at takeoff.The piloted test flight took place on August 12 at Heart Aerospace’s flight-test base at Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York. The 27-minute mission saw the X1 reach an altitude of 1,100 feet above ground level, while its all-electric propulsion system delivered more than 1 megawatt of power.“With the first flight of X1, Heart Aerospace has demonstrated electric flight at the scale of a commercial airliner,” Heart Aerospace founder and CEO Anders Forslund said in a media statement.
X1 completes 27-minute all-electric flight
The X1 demonstrator measures 106 feet across its wings, is 76 feet long and has a takeoff weight of more than 25,000 pounds. It features a composite fuselage and wing and was designed as a full-scale technology demonstrator for Heart Aerospace’s planned ES-30 regional aircraft.The test mission included taxiing, takeoff, climb, manoeuvring and landing. The aircraft operated under an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate in the Experimental Category (SAC-EC).Heart said the mission was specifically designed to demonstrate all-electric flight at a scale relevant to commercial airline operations.The X1 was first authorised for flight testing by the Federal Aviation Administration in July.
X1 used around $5 worth of electricity
A 30-seat cabin mockup inside Heart Aerospace’s X1 demonstrator aircraft during its rollout. (Photo: Heart Aerospace)
One of the striking aspects of the demonstration was the energy cost. Heart Aerospace said the battery-powered X1 used approximately $5 worth of electricity during its first flight.The flight also comes as global jet fuel prices remain elevated. Jet fuel averaged around $3.50 per gallon for the week ending August 7, representing a 63% year-on-year increase, according to the figures cited by Heart Aerospace.The company believes the cost difference highlights the potential of electric propulsion to lower aircraft operating costs while reducing airlines’ exposure to fluctuations in global oil prices.
X1 is a testbed for the hybrid-electric ES-30
Despite the X1 being fully electric, Heart Aerospace’s planned production aircraft will use a different propulsion configuration.The ES-30 is being developed as a conventional fixed-wing 30-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner and will require full FAA Part 25 certification before it can carry passengers commercially.The X1 is intended to validate the technologies, aerodynamics and flight performance that will feed into the ES-30 programme.Heart is targeting 2028 for flight testing of the first pre-production ES-30, with commercial entry into service planned for 2031.
Heart expects ES-30 to cut operating costs by more than 40%
Heart Aerospace expects the ES-30 to reduce aircraft operating costs by more than 40% compared with legacy regional aircraft.The company attributes the anticipated savings to lower energy costs, reduced maintenance requirements from simplified electric propulsion and flight systems, as well as improved aircraft availability and reliability through an integrated electronics and software architecture.“Electric commercial aircraft have the potential to fundamentally reshape airline economics and ultimately, lower the cost of air travel for passengers,” Forslund said.He added that Heart’s vision is to enable more affordable, frequent and cleaner air service connecting regional airports.
United Airlines and Air Canada among ES-30 supporters
The ES-30 has already attracted commitments from major airlines, including United Airlines, Air Canada and JSX.United originally announced an intent to order 100 of Heart’s earlier 19-seat ES-19 aircraft in 2021. That commitment was later converted to the hybrid-electric ES-30 programme.United Airlines CFO Michael Leskinen said the carrier believes electric commercial aircraft could offer a better travel experience while strengthening its business.Air Canada executive vice president and CFO John Di Bert also described the X1’s first flight as an important milestone for the ES-30 programme.Collectively, customer commitments from commercial carriers currently amount to approximately $9.4 billion, according to Heart Aerospace.
Heart Aerospace developing first pre-production ES-30
The company is currently developing its first pre-production ES-30 at its pilot manufacturing plant in Los Angeles. Flight testing is scheduled to begin in 2028, ahead of the targeted 2031 entry into service.Heart CTO Ben Stabler said the X1 programme has allowed the company to develop capabilities across the entire aircraft development process.“Through the X1 programme, Heart has built the capability to design, build, test, operate and continuously improve a clean-sheet electric commercial aircraft,” Stabler said.The company now plans to carry that experience into the ES-30 as it works towards what it describes as a broader technology platform for electric airliners.