The Largest Battery-Electric Aircraft Ever Flown Takes Off
Heart Aerospace says its X1, flown on August 12, 2026, is the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown and a full-scale stand-in for an electric airliner.
Photo source:
Heart Aerospace
Cleared by the FAA Before Takeoff
On July 23, 2026, the Federal Aviation
Administration, or FAA, issued Heart a Special Airworthiness Certificate in the
Experimental Category, which authorizes Heart to commence flight testing of X1
immediately. The certificate followed an FAA inspection at Plattsburgh of the
aircraft, its technical documentation, and Heart's proposed flight-test
operations. Before that, Heart had completed structural, propulsion, systems,
and low- and high-speed taxi tests. The first flight took place under this
certificate.
Four Motors Running on Batteries Alone
X1 is 100% battery-electric, with four
wing-mounted electric motors, and stands 24 feet tall. During the first flight, its all-electric propulsion system delivered more than one megawatt of power,
which is more than 1,000 kilowatts. Heart lists a maximum speed of 140 knots,
or 259 km/h, a maximum altitude of 2,000 feet above ground level, and a maximum
maneuver load of 1.5 g. X1 is flown by a single pilot and is based at
Plattsburgh International Airport.
A Stand-In for an Electric Airliner
X1 is a full-scale demonstrator representative
of the ES-30, which Heart describes as a conventional fixed-wing, 30-seat
hybrid-electric regional airliner, meaning it combines electric power with a
second power source. The ES-30 is designed for FAA Part 25 certification, the
FAA's certification standard for airliners, and its entry into service is
targeted for 2031. The first pre-production ES-30 is being developed at Heart's
pilot manufacturing plant in Los Angeles, with flight testing scheduled for 2028.
What the Flight Covered
The flight profile included taxi, takeoff,
climb, maneuvering, and landing. According to Heart, X1 is meant to validate
flight characteristics, demonstrate key technologies, and generate operational
data and insights to support the ES-30's continued development. Chief
Technology Officer Ben Stabler said that through X1, Heart "has built the
capability to design, build, test, operate, and continuously improve a
clean-sheet electric commercial aircraft," a clean-sheet aircraft being
one designed from scratch.
Airlines Backing the Program
United Airlines, Air Canada, and JSX have made
customer commitments for the ES-30. United Airlines Chief Financial Officer
Michael Leskinen called the flight "a major technical achievement for
Heart Aerospace, a company United has been proud to support." Air Canada
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer John Di Bert said the
airline's investment "reflects Air Canada's commitment to supporting
innovative technologies that have the potential to transform aviation."
Forslund described the company's vision as electrification enabling air service
"to and from airports closer to home."
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