Heart Aerospace, a Swedish hybrid-electric aircraft manufacturer, plans to conduct the first all-electric test flight of its Heart Experimental 1 (Heart X-1, or HX-1) demonstrator at Plattsburgh International Airport, Clinton County, New York, in 2025. The flight of the Heart X-1, “set to be the largest all-electric aircraft ever flown", the company said in a statement today, marks a key milestone in the development of Heart Aerospace’s ES-30” 30-seat hybrid-electric regional passenger aircraft.

Fully electric and zero emissions, with a range of 200 kilometers, extended in hybrid form to 400 kilometers (to become 800), the ES-30 promises sustainability and efficiency on short-haul routes. The initial experimental flight of the Heart X-1 demonstrator is designed to validate the capabilities of the innovative technology applied to the Heart electric propulsion system.

Plattsburgh International Airport, the company notes, was chosen for its location in the Champlain Valley, an emerging hub for next-generation transportation. With extensive airport infrastructure, low air traffic density, and strong community support for transportation technology initiatives, the airport provides an ideal environment for this experimental flight.

“HX-1 is currently undergoing extensive critical systems testing to ensure a safe and successful flight to Plattsburgh next year, and we plan to fly it there in early 2025", Heart Aerospace said in a statement.

With a wingspan of 32 meters, the demonstrator, which will serve as a platform for the rigorous testing and development of the ES-30, is being built almost entirely at the Heartilitis facility in Gothenburg, Sweden. The next step in the ES-30’s development is a pre-production prototype, the Heart X-2, based on lessons learned from the Heart X-1. The hybrid-electric HX-2 is potentially scheduled for flight in 2026 and will demonstrate the company’s independent hybrid propulsion system. Heart Aerospace currently has a total of 250 firm orders for the ES-30, with options and purchase rights for an additional 120 units.