Heart Aerospace Unveils Full-Sized Hybrid Aircraft Demonstrator

Heart Aerospace has unveiled its full-scale demonstrator for the ES-30, a regional hybrid-electric aircraft primarily developed at the company's Gothenburg facilities. 

“Our industry is approaching a 30-year innovation cycle, and we have less than 25 years to decarbonize aviation. We need to develop new methods to get net-zero aerospace technologies to market faster,” said Anders Forslund, Co-Founder and CEO, Heart Aerospace. 

“It is a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of our team that we are able to roll out a 30-seat aircraft demonstrator with a brand-new propulsion system, largely in-house, in less than two years,” added Forslund.

The demonstrator, named Heart Experimental 1 (Heart X1), features a wingspan of 32 meters and will undergo extensive testing to advance the ES-30’s development. Initial tests will focus on ground-based procedures, including charging, taxiing, and turnaround protocols. The first fully electric flight of the Heart X1 is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025.

The Heart X1’s development has been partially funded by a grant from the Swedish Innovation Agency, Vinnova, as part of a collaborative effort between government and industry to advance sustainable technologies.

“Developing innovative net-zero aerospace technologies demands a revolution in product development and manufacturing, much like what we've witnessed in the automotive and space industries,” said Ben Stabler, Chief Technology Officer, Heart Aerospace.

Next steps for Heart Aerospace include developing a pre-production prototype, the Heart X2, which will feature hybrid-electric flight capabilities by 2026. This prototype will showcase the company's Independent Hybrid propulsion system, supported by a US$4.1 million grant from the FAA's Fuelling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition (FAST) program. The company aims to achieve type certification for the ES-30 by the end of the decade and plans to establish a pilot manufacturing plant to expedite prototyping.

The ES-30, designed for 30 passengers, offers a zero-emission electric range of 200 kilometers and a hybrid range of up to 400 kilometers, aiming to enhance sustainability and efficiency for short-haul routes.

In addition to the aircraft demonstrator, Heart Aerospace has collaborated with Brathens Regional Airlines, SAS, and Swedavia to test ground support procedures for electric aircraft. These tests were part of the Swedish ELISE research project, funded by Vinnova. The collaboration involved the use of the Heart Experimental 1 (HX-1) demonstrator at Gothenburg’s Säve airport, where various ground support procedures were evaluated. These included charging and maintenance routines, onboarding and offboarding processes, and overall ground support operations.