Heart Aerospace has taken another step forward in the development of its ES-30 hybrid-electric regional aircraft. In late May 2026, the Heart X1 demonstrator completed low-speed taxi testing at the company’s flight-test base at Plattsburgh International Airport in New York State. The tests form an important part of the ground-testing programme ahead of FAA special airworthiness certification and the aircraft’s first flight, the company announced on LinkedIn.
The X1, also known as Heart Experimental 1, is the first full-scale demonstrator in the ES-30 development programme. Heart Aerospace unveiled it in September 2024 in Gothenburg, Sweden. The aircraft is intended as a flying test platform for validating key technologies, systems and procedures before further development of the final configuration planned for certification.
The ES-30 is a 30-seat regional passenger aircraft being developed for short regional routes, with a focus on electric propulsion and reduced emissions. According to Heart Aerospace, the aircraft is expected to offer an all-electric range of 200 kilometres, while in hybrid configuration, with 25 passengers, the range could reach up to 800 kilometres. Its planned operational characteristics include the ability to operate from runways of around 1,100 metres, while charging time is expected to be approximately 30 minutes. Type certification is targeted for 2029.
The company had previously announced that the first fully electric experimental flight of the X1 demonstrator would take place in Plattsburgh, which was selected as the base for the initial flight-test campaign. Compared with earlier announcements, the programme is progressing gradually, and the completion of low-speed taxi testing indicates that the demonstrator is moving through the final stages of preparation for the next ground and flight-test phases.
Heart Aerospace says the ES-30 is not intended as a replacement for large passenger aircraft, but rather as a solution for short regional routes, particularly in areas served by smaller airports, shorter runways and communities requiring better regional connectivity. The concept relies on electric propulsion for the shortest sectors, while the hybrid system is intended to provide greater operational flexibility and extended range.
The ES-30 programme has already attracted interest from several airlines and investors. In 2022, Air Canada ordered 30 ES-30 aircraft and became a shareholder in Heart Aerospace together with Saab, while the company has also announced orders and letters of intent from other operators. According to a Heart Aerospace statement from December 2023, the company then held 250 firm orders, options and purchase rights for a further 120 aircraft, and letters of intent for another 191 aircraft.
Although the development of electric and hybrid-electric passenger aircraft remains technologically demanding, particularly due to battery weight, certification requirements and the need for reliable charging infrastructure, the completion of the X1 demonstrator’s initial taxi tests represents tangible progress toward the start of the flight-test phase. For Heart Aerospace, the next major milestone will be obtaining the required approvals and completing the first flight of the X1, after which development is expected to continue toward a more mature prototype and the final ES-30 configuration.
