On August 12, Heart Aerospace flew its X1 demonstrator aircraft for the first time at Plattsburgh International Airport.

Spanning 106 feet and weighing over 25,000 pounds, the X1 is the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown. The 27-minute piloted test flight reached an altitude of 1,100 feet. The crew tested taxi, takeoff, maneuvering, and landing, with the electric propulsion system delivering more than one megawatt of power.

A Cost-Effective Flight

Heart Aerospace’s X1 demonstrator aircraft during its first flight; Photo: Heart Aerospace

The whole flight used only about $5 worth of electricity. That comes at a time when jet fuel prices averaged $3.50 per gallon in early August, up 63% from last year.

The X1 isn’t built to carry passengers itself. Instead, it tests the design, aerodynamics, and technology for Heart’s upcoming ES-30, a 30-seat hybrid-electric airliner. Heart expects the ES-30 to lower operating costs by over 40% compared to traditional regional planes.

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“With the first flight of X1, Heart Aerospace has demonstrated electric flight at the scale of a commercial airliner,” said Anders Forslund, Founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace. “Electric commercial aircraft have the potential to fundamentally reshape airline economics and, ultimately, lower the cost of air travel for passengers. This is at the heart of our vision for abundant air travel, with electrification enabling more affordable, frequent, and cleaner air service to and from airports closer to home.”

An Electric Future

Airlines are already taking notice. United Airlines, Air Canada, and JSX have all signed customer commitments for the ES-30.

“The first flight of X1 is a major technical achievement for Heart Aerospace, a company United has been proud to support,” said Michael Leskinen, Chief Financial Officer of United Airlines. “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.”

Heart is currently building its first pre-production ES-30 at its plant in Los Angeles. Flight testing for that aircraft is set to begin in 2028, with commercial flights targeted for 2031.