World’s Largest Electric Aircraft Completes First Flight

Heart Aerospace achieved a milestone by completing the first flight of its world's largest battery-electric aircraft, the X1 demonstrator, on August 12, 2026, at Plattsburgh International Airport in New York. The X1, which holds the distinction of being the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown, boasts a wingspan of 106 feet (32 metres) and measures 76 feet (23 metres) nose to tail, weighing over 25,000 pounds (11,300 kg) at takeoff.

During the 27-minute piloted test flight, the X1 successfully climbed to 1,100 feet above ground level and showcased its fully electric propulsion system's capability to deliver more than one megawatt of power. The flight included taxiing, takeoff, climbing, maneuvering, and landing, all conducted under an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate in the Experimental Category.

Heart Aerospace designed the test specifically to demonstrate battery-powered flight at a scale comparable to commercial airliners. The aircraft consumed approximately $5 worth of electricity during the entire flight, a figure that only accounts for the electricity used during the test, not the total operating costs of a commercial flight.

While the X1 is not intended to become a commercial passenger aircraft, it serves as a full-scale demonstrator for Heart Aerospace's planned 30-seat regional aircraft, the ES-30. Unlike the fully electric X1, the ES-30 will utilize a hybrid-electric propulsion system. Heart aims for the ES-30 to have an all-electric range of 200 km, a hybrid range of up to 800 km, and around 30 minutes of charging time.

The company expects flight testing of the first pre-production ES-30 to commence in 2028, with certification and commercial service entry targeted for 2031. Airlines such as United Airlines, Air Canada, and JSX have committed to supporting the program.