Heart Aerospace has won a $2.9 million award from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under Phase IV of its Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise (CLEEN) programme. Heart matches the sum, funding a $5.8 million, 24-month research and demonstration project. The money backs Project HYPER, which will develop and test a megawatt-class turbogenerator for the hybrid-electric ES-36 aircraft. Testing starts on the ground, then moves to demonstration flights on the pre-production ES-36, due to fly in 2028. The project will produce data on energy use, fuel burn, emissions, and noise to support certification of the ES-36 and hybrid-electric aircraft more broadly. Heart targets an all-electric range of 125 miles and a hybrid range of up to 745 miles for the ES-36.

FAA awards Heart Aerospace more funding for hybrid propulsion research. Heart Aerospace today announced a USD2.9 million award from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under Phase IV of the agency's Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise (CLEEN) public-private partnership programme. CLEEN brings the FAA and aerospace manufacturers together to develop and test aircraft technologies with improved performance and safety, said Heart in a press release. With an equal cost share from Heart, the award supports a USD5.8 million, 24-month R&D and demonstration project. "The award will fund Heart's Project HYPER (Hybrid Propulsion Environmental Readiness), which will advance development and testing of a Heart turbogenerator for the ES-36's series-hybrid propulsion system," said the company. "Each of the aircraft's two propulsion nacelles will house a megawatt-class turbogenerator that produces electricity in flight, extending the ES-36's range beyond what batteries alone can provide. "Through Project HYPER, Heart will develop and test the ES-36 turbogenerator on the company's pre-production aircraft, scheduled to make its first flight in 2028. The project will begin with ground testing to evaluate how the turbogenerator, batteries and electric motors work together in different operating modes, before progressing to demonstration flights aboard the pre-production ES-36. The project will generate data on energy use, fuel burn, emissions, and noise to support ES-36 certification and inform the FAA's approach to evaluating and certifying hybrid-electric aircraft more broadly." The CLEEN award extends FAA support for the development of Heart's hybrid-electric powertrain, initially provided through the agency's Fueling Aviation's Sustainable Transition (FAST) program, says the company. That funding supported development of Heart's Total Hybrid Electric Management and Integration System (THEMIS), the propulsion control architecture that coordinates the ES-36's electric motors, turbogenerators and batteries during flight. Together, the turbogenerators and THEMIS will enable ES-36 to fly on battery power alone for short-haul routes and will supplement battery power with electricity generated from Jet A and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for longer regional missions. Heart is targeting an ES-36 all-electric range of 125 miles and a hybrid range of up to 745 miles, both plus reserves. (Image: Heart)

Heart Aerospace, a pioneer in its class, has launched the ES-36 hybrid-electric aircraft, capable of seating 36 passengers. AIRSPACE REVIEW - Swedish aerospace company Heart Aerospace has launched a 36-seat hybrid-electric regional passenger aircraft, the world's first in its class. In conjunction with the launch on September 23, 2026, JSX, a semi-private airline in the United States, announced that it has signed a purchase agreement for 50 ES-36 units with an option for an additional 50. The aircraft, named ES-36, is the production version that replaces the previously planned ES-30. Compared to the ES-30, the ES-36 has six more seats and a 20 percent increase in payload capacity, but the number of engines has been reduced from four to two. This design change was made after Heart learned various things during the process of designing, building, and testing the X1 demonstrator aircraft which made its maiden flight on August 13, 2026. Production Facilities in the US. To facilitate obtaining FAA certification, Heart Aerospace has built a production facility in Torrance, California, United States. Find out more Military training Military History They have now begun building a pre-production version of the ES-36, with the first flight planned for the second half of 2028. The aircraft is expected to enter service in 2031. The ES-36 is powered by dual 1.65-megawatt electric motors combined with two compact gas turbine-powered turbogenerators. This turbine system generates electricity during flight to replenish the battery. Full electric range is up to 125 miles (200 km), powered by an internal battery that is charged on the ground with zero emissions. Meanwhile, the hybrid has a range of 745 miles (1,200 km), utilizing a gas turbine to extend the range for longer regional routes. (RBS) Find out more Defense industry Defense strategy Aerospace Info