On 13 August 2026, Heart Aerospace – the Swedish-founded, Los Angeles-based manufacturer of hybrid-electric regional aircraft – announced the successful first flight of its X1 demonstrator aeroplane. With a wingspan of 32 metres (106 feet), a fuselage measuring 23 metres (76 feet) and a maximum take-off weight of approximately 11,340 kilogrammes (over 25,000 pounds), the X1 is the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown.
The record-breaking flight was conducted on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, at Heart Aerospace’s X1 flight-test base at Plattsburgh International Airport, located in Clinton County, northern New York State. During the 27-minute flight, the X1 reached an altitude of 335 metres (1,100 feet), with its all-electric propulsion system delivering more than 1 megawatt of power.
The flight was conducted under an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate in the Experimental Category (SAC-EC) and included a test profile comprising taxiing, take-off, climb, manoeuvring and landing. The goal of the flight was to demonstrate the feasibility of all-electric flight at a scale relevant to commercial airline operations.
The X1, which is powered solely by batteries, consumed only around $5 worth of electricity during its maiden flight. Notably, this occurred amid a sustained surge in global jet fuel prices, which averaged $3.50 per gallon for the week ending 7 August – up 63% year on year – highlighting the potential of electric propulsion to deliver lower aircraft operating costs and make airlines less dependent on the volatility of global oil markets.
“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.”
The X1 is a full-scale demonstrator representative of Heart Aerospace’s production aircraft, the ES-30. The test aeroplane was designed to verify key technologies, aerodynamics and flight performance, as well as the company’s organisational capabilities. The ES-30 is a 30-seat regional airliner with a conventional fixed-wing design and a hybrid-electric propulsion system, and is being developed for FAA Part 25 certification. The aircraft has already attracted orders from major airlines such as United Airlines, Air Canada and JSX.
“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.”
“The energy transition for aviation will require a range of solutions, from operational efficiencies to sustainable aviation fuels, and ultimately the development of new aircraft 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 Air Canada’s commitment to supporting innovative technologies that have the potential to transform aviation. X1’s first flight is an important milestone in that journey, and we look forward to continuing to work with Heart Aerospace as the ES-30 programme progresses and plays its part in the future of regional aviation.”
Heart Aerospace expects the ES-30, which is planned to enter service in 2031, to reduce operating costs by over 40% compared to traditional regional aircraft. This reduction is made possible by lower energy costs and reduced maintenance requirements, thanks to simplified electric propulsion and electrified flight systems. Additionally, an integrated electronics and software architecture enables greater aircraft uptime and improves reliability.
The company anticipates that this cost advantage will increase over time due to advances in battery technology and technology-enabled improvements in crew efficiency. Additionally, the ES-30 will be less affected by a growing range of emissions-related aviation taxes and fees worldwide.
“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, 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.”
Heart Aerospace is currently developing the first pre-production ES-30 aircraft at its manufacturing plant in Los Angeles. Its flight-testing programme is scheduled to begin in 2028.
Cover photo: Heart Aerospace’s X1 demonstrator, the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown, crosses the Champlain Valley near Plattsburgh, New York, at sunrise during its first flight in August 2026. Photo ©Heart Aerospace
The Heart Aerospace company press materials were used.
