World's largest electric aircraft completes first flight
Dhaka: Los Angeles-based electric aircraft manufacturer Heart Aerospace completed the first flight of its X1 demonstrator, marking the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown, the company announced on August 13.
The aircraft, with a wingspan of 106 feet and takeoff weight exceeding 25,000 pounds, flew from Heart's test facility at Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York on August 12.
The piloted flight lasted 27 minutes, during which X1 climbed to 1,100 feet and its electric propulsion system generated over one megawatt of power, according to the company.
The test was carried out under an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate in the Experimental Category, covering taxi, takeoff, climb, maneuvering, and landing phases meant to reflect commercial airline operating conditions.
Heart Aerospace said the flight consumed roughly USD 5 worth of electricity, arriving as jet fuel prices climbed to an average of USD 3.50 per gallon for the week ending August 7, a 63% year-on-year rise.
Company founder and CEO Anders Forslund said the milestone proved electric flight was achievable at commercial airliner scale, adding that electric commercial aircraft could reshape airline economics and reduce travel costs by enabling more frequent service from smaller airports.
X1 serves as a full-scale demonstrator for Heart's planned ES-30, a 30-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft undergoing development for FAA Part 25 certification. The program has drawn backing from United Airlines, Air Canada, and JSX.
United Airlines Chief Financial Officer Michael Leskinen called the flight a significant technical achievement, noting the airline's continued support for the ES-30's development and its possible future integration into United's network.
Air Canada Chief Financial Officer John Di Bert said the carrier's investment reflected its commitment to innovative technologies capable of transforming aviation, describing the flight as a key step toward the ES-30's progress.
Heart Aerospace is targeting entry into service for the ES-30 by 2031, projecting more than a 40% reduction in operating costs compared to conventional regional aircraft, driven by lower energy use, simplified maintenance, and improved reliability.
Chief Technology Officer Ben Stabler said the X1 program had given the company the full capability to design, build, and test a clean-sheet electric aircraft, which would now carry over into the ES-30 program.
The first pre-production ES-30 is currently being built at Heart's pilot manufacturing site in Los Angeles, with flight testing expected to begin in 2028.
