Heart Aerospace has completed the first flight of its X1 battery‑electric demonstrator, a milestone highlighted by AeroTime.
The aircraft took off from Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York, remained airborne for 27 minutes and climbed to 1,100 feet, demonstrating a battery‑electric system that delivered more than one megawatt of power.
With a wingspan of 106 feet and a take‑off weight exceeding 25,000 pounds, the X1 is the largest battery‑electric aircraft to have flown, serving as a test bed for the forthcoming ES‑30 airliner.
United Airlines CFO Michael Leskinen praised the achievement and noted United’s pre‑commitment for 100 ES‑30 aircraft, emphasizing the potential for electric commercial flights.
