AKISA informs that, on August 12, 2026, Heart Aerospace conducted the first flight of its X1 demonstrator aircraft, which, according to information published by the company, represents the largest battery-electric aircraft to have flown to date.

The flight was conducted at Heart Aerospace’s flight-test base at Plattsburgh International Airport, New York, USA, and lasted 27 minutes. During the mission, X1 reached an altitude of 1,100 feet AGL, while its fully electric propulsion system delivered more than one megawatt of power.

The flight was conducted under an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate – Experimental Category (SAC-EC), with the test profile including taxi, takeoff, climb, maneuvering and landing.

Development of the ES-30 aircraft

X1 is a full-scale demonstrator developed to test and evaluate key technologies, aerodynamics and flight performance.

The X1 programme is connected to the development of the ES-30, a 30-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft currently being developed for certification under FAA Part 25 requirements. According to Heart Aerospace, entry into service for the ES-30 is targeted for 2031.

The development of new propulsion technologies represents an emerging area within civil aviation and requires continued assessment of the aspects related to their safe integration into the aviation system.

In this context, electric and hybrid-electric technologies introduce new considerations in areas including airworthiness, certification, operations, maintenance, personnel training and safety management.

AKISA will continue to follow technological developments and the evolution of international civil aviation standards, with a focus on the safety of aviation operations and the challenges that may arise from the integration of emerging technologies into the aviation system.

Source: Heart Aerospace, August 13, 2026.