World's Largest Electric Plane Flies for 27 Minutes on $5 of Power

Heart Aerospace's 25,000-pound X1 demonstrator aircraft has successfully completed its first flight using just $5 worth of electricity, covering a distance of 27 minutes. This marks the first airborne test of its megawatt-scale electric propulsion system. The X1, weighing over 25,000 pounds and boasting a 106-foot wingspan, is the largest fully electric aircraft to have flown.

The electric propulsion system delivered more than one megawatt of power during the flight, which took off from Plattsburgh International Airport in New York and climbed to an altitude of 1,100 feet. Despite the $5 fuel cost, the X1's performance is noteworthy, as it outperforms current U.S. jet fuel prices of around $3.50 per gallon, which have surged by 63% from the previous year.

While the X1 is not intended for commercial service, it is crucial for developing Heart's planned 30-seat ES-30 hybrid-electric aircraft. The ES-30 is designed to fly up to 125 miles entirely on batteries and up to 500 miles using its hybrid system, with charging expected to take only 30 minutes. By 2031, Heart anticipates the ES-30 to significantly reduce aircraft operating costs by more than 40% compared to existing regional aircraft, with commercial service slated for that year.

Major airlines, including United Airlines and Air Canada, have already committed over $9.4 billion to the technology, with Heart's first pre-production ES-30 set to undergo flight testing at its Los Angeles pilot manufacturing plant in 2028.