The world’s largest battery-electric aircraft has completed its first test flight, marking a major step for electric aviation. Heart Aerospace’s X1 took off from Plattsburgh International Airport in New York on August 12, 2026, and remained in the air for 27 minutes.
The aircraft reached an altitude of 1,100 feet and its electric propulsion system produced more than one megawatt of power. It has a wingspan of 106 feet, is 76 feet long and weighs more than 25,000 pounds at takeoff. The flight used around $5 worth of electricity.
The X1 is not designed to carry passengers. It is a full-scale test aircraft for Heart Aerospace’s planned ES-30, a 30-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft. The company is developing the ES-30 to reduce operating costs and support cleaner regional air travel.
Heart Aerospace plans to begin ES-30 flight testing in 2028 and is targeting commercial service by 2031. The company says the aircraft could reduce operating costs by more than 40% compared with older regional aircraft.
