World's Largest Battery-Electric Plane Completes Inaugural Test Flight
The 106-foot aircraft, powered by batteries, achieved a 27-minute flight at a cost of approximately $5 in electricity.
The world's largest battery-electric aircraft has successfully completed its first piloted test flight, a 27-minute journey that demonstrated all-electric flight at a scale relevant to commercial operations. The aircraft, a technology demonstrator named X1 developed by US-based Heart Aerospace, is designed to test systems for the company's planned 30-seat ES-30 plane.
The flight took place on August 12 at Heart's X1 flight-test base located at Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York. During the mission, the X1, which spans 106 feet and weighed over 11.33 tonnes at takeoff, reached an altitude of 1,100 feet. The flight sequence included taxiing, takeoff, climb, maneuvering, and landing.
Heart Aerospace reported that the X1 used approximately $5 (£3.70) worth of electricity for the entire flight. This low energy cost is significantly less than the average price of a takeaway coffee in the UK and comes amid a notable increase in global jet fuel prices, which were up 63% year over year for the week ending August 7.
Anders Forslund, founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, stated that the X1's flight demonstrated electric flight at the scale of a commercial airliner. He emphasized the potential for electric commercial aircraft to reshape airline economics and reduce air travel costs for passengers, aligning with the company's vision of enabling more affordable, frequent, and cleaner air service.
United Airlines and Air Canada have made customer commitments for the ES-30. Michael Leskinen, chief financial officer and executive vice president of United Airlines, described the X1's first flight as a major technical achievement and expressed anticipation for Heart's continued development and the ES-30's potential future role in United's network.
The ES-30 is targeted for entry into service in 2031. Heart Aerospace projects that the ES-30 could reduce aircraft operating costs by over 40% compared to traditional regional aircraft, attributed to lower energy expenses, reduced maintenance, and increased aircraft reliability. The company is currently developing the first pre-production ES-30 at its manufacturing plant in Los Angeles, with flight testing scheduled to commence in 2028.