A Heart Aerospace, a Swedish manufacturer of hybrid electric aircraft, has unveiled its first full-scale demonstrator aircraft, marking a major milestone in the development of its regional hybrid-electric aircraft, the ES-30.
Built almost entirely at Heartilitis’ Gothenburg facility, the demonstrator reflects the company’s strategy of developing design and production processes simultaneously. With a wingspan of 32 meters, the demonstrator, called Heart Experimental 1 (Heart X1), will serve as a platform for rigorous testing and development of the Heartilitis ES-30 aircraft.
The HX-1 will be used for ground testing, focusing on charging, taxiing and recovery procedures. It is scheduled to conduct its first all-electric flight in the second quarter of 2025. In preparation for this flight, Heart will test critical systems by performing hardware tests both inside and outside the aircraft.
The development of the Heart X1 was funded in part by grants provided by the Swedish Innovation Agency, Vinnova, highlighting the essential collaboration between government and industry needed to bring new aviation technologies to market.
Building on the experience of developing the Heart X1, Heart is now focused on creating a next-generation aircraft manufacturing process that relies on the latest component technologies and product lifecycle management, building on a guided assembly line, automation and non-destructive inspection.
The next step in the development of the ES-30 is a construction of a pre-production prototype, the Heart X2, based on lessons learned from the Heart X1. The Heart X2 is scheduled for a hybrid-electric flight in 2026 and will demonstrate the company’s hybrid independent propulsion system.
The ES-30 is a hybrid-electric regional aircraft with a standard capacity of 30 engers, which promises to offer sustainability and unmatched efficiency on short-haul routes. With a zero-emission electric range of 200 km and an extended hybrid range of 400 km.
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