Key facts
- Heart Aerospace's X1 demonstrator, the world's largest battery-electric aircraft, completed its first flight.
- The flight lasted 27 minutes and reached an altitude of 1,100 feet.
- The aircraft weighs over 25,000 pounds and has a 106-foot wingspan.
- The electric propulsion system delivered over one megawatt of power.
- The electricity cost for the flight was approximately $5.
- Heart Aerospace plans to develop the 30-seat ES-30 hybrid-electric aircraft for commercial service by 2031.
Heart Aerospace's X1 demonstrator, the world's largest battery-electric aircraft, successfully completed its first flight, covering a distance of 27 minutes and reaching an altitude of 1,100 feet. The flight served as an airborne test for the aircraft's megawatt-scale electric propulsion system. The demonstrator weighs over 25,000 pounds and has a 106-foot wingspan. The electricity used for the flight cost approximately $5, a stark contrast to current U.S. jet fuel prices which average around $3.50 per gallon. While direct cost comparisons are not yet relevant as the X1 is not for commercial service, it represents a significant step towards Heart's planned 30-seat ES-30 hybrid-electric aircraft. The ES-30 is designed to fly up to 125 miles on batteries alone or up to 500 miles using its hybrid system, with a targeted charging time of 30 minutes. Heart Aerospace anticipates the ES-30 will reduce aircraft operating costs by over 40% compared to existing regional aircraft, aiming for commercial service by 2031. The company has already secured $9.4 billion in customer commitments for the ES-30 from major airlines including United Airlines and Air Canada. Pre-production ES-30 aircraft are being built at their Los Angeles facility, with flight testing scheduled for 2028.