Heart Aerospace unveils its first full-scale demonstrator aircraft, marking a major milestone in the development of the regional hybrid-electric aircraft, the ES-30. Built almost entirely in-house at Heart Aerospace’s facilities in Gothenburg, the demonstrator reflects the company’s strategy to simultaneously develop both design and manufacturing processes.
“Our industry is approaching a 30-year innovation cycle, and we have less than 25 years to decarbonize aviation. We need to develop new methods to bring net zero space technologies to market faster,” says Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace. “It is a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of our team that we were able to roll out a 30-seat aircraft demonstrator with a completely new propulsion system, mostly our own, in less than two years.” With a wingspan of 32 meters, the demonstrator, named Heart Experimental 1 (Heart X1), will serve as a platform for rigorous testing and development of Heart’s ES-30 aircraft.
Initially, the HX-1 will be used for ground testing, focusing on refueling operations, taxiing, and turnaround procedures. It is scheduled to make its first all-electric flight in the second quarter of 2025. In preparation for this flight, Heart will test critical systems over the coming months by conducting on- and off-aircraft hardware tests. The development of the Heart X1 was partially funded by a grant from the Swedish Innovation Agency, Vinnova, highlighting the crucial collaboration between government and industry needed to bring new aerospace technologies to market. “The development of innovative net-zero aerospace technologies requires a revolution in product development and manufacturing, similar to what we have witnessed in the automotive and aerospace industries,” said Ben Stabler, Chief Technology Officer at Heart Aerospace.
Building on the Heart X1 development experience, Heart is now focused on creating a state-of-the-art aircraft manufacturing process that relies on the latest technologies in composite manufacturing and product lifecycle management, building a data-driven production line with high repeatability, automation, and non-destructive inspection. Heart’s next step in ES-30 development is the creation of a pre-production prototype, the Heart X2, which will further mature the design and manufacturing methods based on lessons learned from the Heart X1. Heart X2 is slated for hybrid-electric flight in 2026 and will demonstrate the company’s Independent Hybrid propulsion system.
In addition, in collaboration with the airlines Braathens Regional Airlines, SAS and airport operator Swedavia, Heart Aerospace is completing tests of the ground support procedure for the electric plane in an effort to bring greener air travel closer to reality. The tests were carried out as part of the Swedish research project ELISE, which brings together technology companies with airlines and airports to encourage the development of electric aviation infrastructure in Sweden. This phase of the ELISE project focused on creating a full demonstrator of Heart’s ES-30 regional aircraft to test ground handling procedures.
“Commercial users want to reduce operating costs and decarbonize their fleets, but face a number of complex challenges, such as which socket standard to install and how to bring megawatts of power to remote facilities. We are working closely with industry advisors through the ELISE project to ensure these specific needs are met.By working with experts, we aim to create an infrastructure tailored to electric aircraft and the airport,” says Simon Reinberth, Airport Infrastructure Manager at Heart Aerospace.
“As one of the leaders in the aviation industry’s movement toward lower greenhouse gas emissions, we believe partnerships like the Elise program are critical to accelerating the development of advanced technologies needed to achieve the industry’s net-zero goals. By collaborating with like-minded people who share their knowledge and expertise, sharing results with the rest of the industry, we are confident that our commitment will play a significant role in bringing hybrid-electric and all-electric aircraft technologies to market faster,” says Lars Resare, Chief Sustainability Officer at Braathens Regional Airlines.
“SAS is playing a key role in driving the transformation of the aviation industry. We believe that collaboration is key to discovering innovative solutions, and through the ELISE program, SAS is gaining valuable insights into electric aviation. This keeps us ahead of market trends and helps us shape the future of electric aircraft. This initiative also allows us to involve our employees and customers, increasing awareness of the latest aviation technologies,” said Ann-Sofie Hörlin, Head of Sustainability at SAS.
Ground support procedures tested at Säve Airport in Gothenburg included:
- Verification and testing of the charging process: ensuring the reliability and efficiency of the electric aircraft charging process.
- Evaluation of charging routines: Optimizing charging routines to increase operational efficiency.
- Boarding and disembarking procedures: Simplifying the process for passengers and cargo especially for electric aircraft.
- Experience of ground support and maintenance routines: Training of ground support personnel to ensure smooth functioning.
Sweden has a strong aviation industry and transport infrastructure that depends on air traffic, and the successful completion of these ground test procedures brings the country’s vision of environmentally friendly air travel closer to reality. This momentum will continue with the establishment of a pilot production facility to accelerate prototyping towards production of a fully compliant aircraft, with Heart targeting ES-30 type certification by the end of the decade.
