Swedish hybrid-electric aircraft maker, Heart Aerospace, plans to undertake the first fully electric experimental flight of its demonstrator aircraft, Heart Experimental 1 (Heart X1), at New York’s Plattsburgh International Airport in 2025.
The experimental Heart X1 flight, which is reportedly set to become the largest fully electric aircraft ever to fly, marks a milestone in Heart Aerospace’s development of its 30-seat, hybrid-electric regional passenger aircraft, the ES-30.
The ES-30 has an all-electric, zero-emissions range of 200 km and an extended hybrid range of 400 km. However, the company did not specify whether Heart X1 would match the ES-30 range.
Heart Aerospace said, in a press release, that Plattsburgh International Airport was chosen for its location because of its expansive airfield infrastructure and low air-traffic density.
“Electric commercial aircraft have potential to lower operating costs for US airlines, creating a powerful opportunity to re-establish regional air routes that stimulate local economies, boost tourism and enhance access to urban hubs,” said Heart Aerospace’s Co-founder and CEO Anders Forslund.