Heart Aerospace's X1 completes first all-battery flight, signaling a new era for regional jets

Heart Aerospace successfully demonstrated the maiden flight of its X1, a 30-seat, fully battery-powered jet, launching from a New York regional airport and staying aloft for 27 minutes at an altitude of about 1,100 feet. The aircraft, with a 106-foot wingspan and a weight exceeding 25,000 pounds, was piloted solo and reportedly consumed electricity worth $5, a figure that does not account for operational overhead such as crew salaries, airport charges, maintenance or battery degradation.

Founder and CEO Anders Forslund described the test as proof that electric propulsion can be applied to aircraft of commercial scale. The flight serves as a stepping stone toward the hybrid-electric ES-30, which aims to offer a 500-mile range and cut operating costs by up to 40 percent compared with conventional regional planes. Major airlines including United, Air Canada and JSX have already shown interest in the forthcoming model, which Heart Aerospace hopes to certify and launch by 2031. The company, originally founded in Gothenburg before moving its headquarters to Los Angeles in April 2025, views the X1 trial as a milestone for reducing aviation emissions and fuel-price volatility.