Heart Aerospace completes first flight of X1 electric aircraft

Heart Aerospace has successfully completed the first flight of its X1 demonstrator, the largest battery-electric aircraft to have ever flown. The test flight took place on August 12, 2024, at Plattsburgh International Airport in New York.

The X1 features a wingspan of 106 feet and a takeoff weight of over 25,000 pounds. During the 27-minute flight, the aircraft reached an altitude of 1,100 feet above ground level, with its fully electric propulsion system delivering more than one megawatt of power. The flight was conducted under a Special Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA.

According to Heart Aerospace founder and CEO Anders Forslund, the successful demonstration proves that electric flight is viable at a scale relevant to commercial passenger aircraft. The company aims to use electric propulsion to lower operating costs and reduce airline dependence on volatile global oil markets.