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Heart Aerospace announced the successful first flight of its X1 demonstrator aircraft, the largest electric plane in the world.
With a wingspan 32,4 meters, one length of 23,2 meters from tip to tail and a weight of more than 11.343 kilograms at takeoff, The X1 is the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown.
The flight took place on Wednesday 12 august 2026 at Heart's X1 flight test base at Plattsburgh International Airport, a regional commercial airport serving a community of 20.000 inhabitants in the north of the state of New York. The manned mission lasted 27 minutes, during which the X1 reached an altitude of 335 meters above ground level and its all-electric propulsion system delivered more than one megawatt of power.
The X1 made its first flight 100% electric
The flight was carried out under a Special Certificate of Airworthiness of the FAA in the Experimental Category (SAC-EC), with a test profile that included running, takeoff, ascent, maneuvers and landing. The mission was designed to demonstrate all-electric flight on a scale relevant to commercial airline operations..
Entirely powered by batteries, the X1 consumed approximately 5 dollars of electricity during your first flight. This flight came amid a sustained rise in global jet fuel prices, that they averaged 3,50 dollars per gallon during the week ending 7 of August, a 63 % more than the previous year. This highlights the potential of electric propulsion to achieve structurally lower aircraft operating costs., while making airlines independent from the volatility of global oil markets.
«With the first flight of the X1, Heart Aerospace has demonstrated the feasibility of electric flight on a commercial aircraft scale., declared Anders Forslund, founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace. «Electric commercial aircraft have the potential to radically transform the economics of airlines and, as a last resort, reduce the cost of air travel for passengers. This is the essence of our vision for more accessible air transport, where electrification allows for more affordable air service, frequent and clean to and from airports closest to home ».
The X1 is a full-scale demonstrator of Heart's ES-30 production aircraft, designed to validate key technologies, aerodynamics, Heart's flight performance and organizational capabilities. The ES-30 is a conventional fixed-wing hybrid-electric regional aircraft. 30 plazas, in development to obtain FAA Part certification 25. It has received the commitment of important airlines such as United Airlines, Air Canada and JSX.
«The energy transition in aviation will require a series of solutions, from operational efficiency to sustainable aviation fuels and, as a last resort, the development of new aeronautical technologies», said John Di Bert, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Air Canada. Our investment in Heart Aerospace and the ES-30 reflects the commitment of Air Canada supporting innovative technologies with the potential to transform aviation. The first flight of the X1 represents an important milestone on this path, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with Heart Aerospace as the ES-30 program advances and contributes to the future of regional aviation.
With your entry into service planned for 2031, Heart expects the ES-30 to reduce aircraft operating costs by more than 40 % compared to traditional regional aircraft. This reduction is due to lower energy costs, reduced maintenance requirements thanks to simplified electric propulsion and electrified flight systems, and increased aircraft availability and reliability thanks to an integrated electronics and software architecture.
Heart expects this cost advantage to expand over time with advances in battery technology, the improvements in crew efficiency derived from the technology and the ES-30's low exposure to a growing range of emissions-related aviation taxes and fees around the world.
“Through the X1 program, Heart has developed the ability to design, build, prove, operate and continually improve an electric commercial aircraft from the ground up”, said Ben Stabler., Technology Director. “We are applying this comprehensive capability directly to the ES-30, our first production aircraft and the foundation of a broader technology platform for electric commercial aircraft.”.
Heart is currently developing the first pre-production ES-30 at its pilot manufacturing facility in The Angels, and flight tests are expected to begin in 2028.
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