$5 flight? Heart Aerospace’s battery-electric X1 aircraft takes to the skies

Measuring 106 feet across and 76 feet from nose to tail, and weighing more than 25,000 pounds at takeoff, X1 is the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown.

The flight took place on August 12 at Heart Aerospace’s X1 flight-test base at Plattsburgh International Airport, a regional commercial airport serving a community of around 20,000 people in upstate New York.

The piloted mission lasted 27 minutes, during which X1 reached an altitude of 1,100 feet above ground level (AGL). Its all-electric propulsion system delivered more than one megawatt of power.

The flight was conducted under an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate in the Experimental Category (SAC-EC). The test profile included taxiing, takeoff, climb, manoeuvring and landing, and was designed to demonstrate all-electric flight at a scale relevant to commercial airline operations.

Powered entirely by batteries, X1 used approximately $5 worth of electricity during its first flight.

The milestone comes amid a sustained rise in global jet fuel prices. Average jet fuel prices stood at $3.50 per gallon for the week ending August 7, up 63% year-on-year, highlighting the potential for electric propulsion to reduce aircraft operating costs and limit airlines' exposure to fluctuations in global oil prices.

“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,” he added.

X1 Demonstrator to Support ES-30 Development

X1 is a full-scale demonstrator representing Heart Aerospace’s planned ES-30 production aircraft. It is being used to validate key technologies, aerodynamics and flight performance, as well as the company's ability to develop and operate an electric commercial aircraft.

The ES-30 is a conventional fixed-wing, 30-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner being developed for FAA Part 25 certification. The aircraft has already attracted customer commitments from major carriers, including 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,” he added.

John Di Bert, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Air Canada, said the aviation industry's energy transition would require a range of solutions, including operational efficiencies, sustainable aviation fuels and new aircraft technologies.

“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,” he said.

ES-30 Targeted to Enter Service in 2031

Heart Aerospace is targeting 2031 for the ES-30's entry into service and expects the aircraft to reduce operating costs by more than 40% compared with legacy regional aircraft.

The projected reduction is expected to come from lower energy costs, reduced maintenance requirements associated with simplified electric propulsion and electrified flight systems, as well as improved aircraft uptime and reliability enabled by an integrated electronics and software architecture.

Heart expects this cost advantage to increase over time as battery technology improves, crew efficiency increases through technology and the ES-30 remains less exposed to a growing range of emissions-related aviation taxes and fees worldwide.

“Through the X1 program, 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 at Heart Aerospace.

“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,” he added.

Heart is currently developing the first pre-production ES-30 at its pilot manufacturing plant in Los Angeles, with flight testing scheduled to begin in 2028.