The flight from Plattsburgh International Airport saw the X1 reach an altitude of 1,100 feet, successfully testing a propulsion system capable of delivering over one megawatt of power. With a 106-foot wingspan, the aircraft stands as the largest fully electric model to complete a flight to date. While the X1 is a non-commercial testbed, it provides the engineering foundation for the company’s planned 30-seat ES-30 regional airliner.
Heart Aerospace Flies World's Largest Electric Plane on $5 of Power
A 25,000-pound demonstrator aircraft took to the skies over New York for 27 minutes, marking a milestone for megawatt-scale electric aviation. The X1 test flight, which cost just $5 in electricity, signals a shift toward regional air travel that aims to decouple flight operations from volatile jet fuel prices.
Heart Aerospace envisions the ES-30 operating on battery power for short hauls of 125 miles, with a hybrid system extending its range to 500 miles. The company projects a 40% reduction in operating costs compared to traditional regional aircraft, a significant incentive for the industry as IATA reports annual fuel expenditures reaching roughly $350 billion. Major carriers, including United Airlines and Air Canada, have already backed the project with $9.4 billion in commitments. With pre-production underway in Los Angeles, flight testing for the commercial-ready model is slated for 2028, aiming for entry into service by 2031.
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