Heart Aerospace, a hybrid-electric aircraft manufacturer, has unveiled its first full-scale demonstrator, the Heart Experimental 1 (Heart X1), marking a significant step in the development of its ES-30 hybrid-electric regional aircraft.
Constructed predominantly at Heart’s facilities in Gothenburg, Sweden, the Heart X1 boasts a wingspan of 32 meters and will serve as a testing platform for the ES-30’s development.
Initially, the Heart X1 will focus on ground-based testing, including operations such as charging, taxiing, and turnaround procedures. A fully electric first flight is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025. This project has received funding from Vinnova, the Swedish government’s innovation agency.
The next phase in the ES-30’s development will involve the production of a pre-production prototype, named Heart X2, which will further refine design and manufacturing processes based on insights gained from the Heart X1. The Heart X2 is expected to conduct a hybrid-electric flight in 2026, showcasing Heart’s Independent Hybrid propulsion system.
Additionally, in August 2024, Heart secured a $4.1 million grant from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition (FAST) program to develop a management system for this hybrid propulsion.
The ES-30 is designed to accommodate 30 passengers and features an electric zero-emission range of 200 kilometers, alongside an extended hybrid range of 400 kilometers. Heart Aerospace aims to achieve type certification for the ES-30 by the end of the decade, paving the way for sustainable regional air travel.
