The world's largest electric plane just flew for 27 minutes on $5 of electricity. Heart Aerospace's X1 will pave the way for a hybrid-electric commercial aircraft. By Passant Rabie Published August 18, 2026, 1:15 pm ET Reading time 2 minutes A 25,000 pound (11,340 kilogram) aircraft recently took off on its maiden flight, running entirely on battery power that used up just $5 worth of electricity. Heart Aerospace announced the successful first flight of the company's X1 aircraft, which is equipped with four electric motors that draw their energy from onboard batteries. The flight was designed to test the electric propulsion system, with Heart Aerospace hoping to use its prototype aircraft to develop a 30-seat hybrid model designed to service regional airports. Cheap flight. The battery-electric aircraft took off from Plattsburgh International Airport in Upstate New York on August 12 and flew for 27 minutes. It reached an altitude of 1,100 feet, consuming more than a megawatt of power in the process. With a 106-foot wingspan, X1 became the largest battery-electric plane ever flown. The entire flight, including takeoff, maneuvering, and landing, used up approximately $5 worth of electricity, according to a statement from Heart Aerospace. "With the first flight of X1, Heart Aerospace has demonstrated electric flight at the scale of a commercial airliner," said Anders Forslund, founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace. "Electric commercial aircraft have the potential to fundamentally reshape airline economics and, ultimately, lower the cost of air travel for passengers." The future of regional air travel? The recent test of the battery-powered plane comes at a time when global prices for jet fuel have seen a significant surge due to the U.S. war with Iran. The cost of jet fuel has increased from about $2.50 per gallon on average before the war began to an average of $3.50 per gallon earlier this month. The recent surge has forced airlines to raise ticket prices and add fuel subcharges, and this is where Heart Aerospace hopes its electric propulsion system can come in, offering "more affordable, frequent, and cleaner air service to and from airports closer to home," Forslund said. X1 is a full-scale prototype that is designed to pave the way for the ES-30, a conventional, fixed-wing hybrid-electric aircraft for commercial use. The company is hoping ES-30 can begin operations by 2031, aiming to reduce aircraft operating costs by more than 40% compared to regular planes.

World's largest battery-electric aircraft completes historic first flight at Plattsburgh International Airport. August 13, 2026 CLINTON COUNTY, NY - Clinton County today celebrated Heart Aerospace's announcement that the Heart X1 demonstrator successfully completed its historic first flight at Plattsburgh International Airport on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.- Spanning 106 feet, measuring 76 feet nose to tail and weighing more than 25,000 pounds at takeoff, the X1 is the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown. The milestone places Plattsburgh and Clinton County at the center of a significant moment in the evolution of electric aviation. The piloted mission lasted 27 minutes, reached an altitude of 1,100 feet above ground level and demonstrated more than one megawatt of power from the X1's all-electric propulsion system. Powered entirely by batteries, the aircraft used approximately $5 worth of electricity during its first flight. The mission included taxi, takeoff, climb, maneuvering and landing, demonstrating all-electric flight at a scale relevant to commercial airline operations. Heart Aerospace selected Plattsburgh International Airport for the X1 program because of its extensive airfield infrastructure, 11,750-foot concrete runway, relatively low air-traffic density and location within the North Country's growing cluster of transportation and aerospace innovators. "Today, the eyes of the aviation world are on Clinton County, New York," said Clinton County Legislature Chairperson Mark R. Henry (Area 3-R, Chazy). "The first flight of the largest battery-electric aircraft in history is an extraordinary achievement for Heart Aerospace and a tremendous source of pride for Clinton County. This milestone shows that our airport is more than a transportation asset. It is a place where the future of aviation is being developed, tested and proven." The flight was conducted under an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate in the Experimental Category. Before receiving authorization to begin piloted flight testing, the X1 underwent an extensive ground-testing program that included structural, propulsion and systems testing, as well as low- and high-speed taxi tests. "This is an exciting moment for Heart Aerospace and for Clinton County," said Clinton County Legislature Airport Committee Chairperson David G. Bezio (Area 4-D, Plattsburgh). "A great deal of work and coordination went into preparing for this flight, and I want to recognize the Heart Aerospace team, our airport staff and everyone who helped make it possible. Having a milestone of this significance take place here demonstrates the value of Plattsburgh International Airport and the opportunities it can bring to our community." The X1 is a full-scale demonstrator representative of Heart's ES-30 production aircraft. It was developed to validate key technologies, aerodynamics and flight performance, as well as Heart's organizational capabilities to design, build, test and operate an electric commercial aircraft. Heart established its X1 flight-test base at Plattsburgh International Airport as the company advanced the aircraft through ground testing, FAA review and final flight preparations. "Supporting an experimental flight program of this scale requires tremendous coordination, professionalism and attention to safety," said Plattsburgh International Airport Director Patrick Sharrow. "Our airport team has been proud to work alongside Heart Aerospace and its flight-test team throughout this process. Seeing the X1 take flight from Plattsburgh International Airport is an unforgettable moment and a powerful demonstration of what this facility is capable of supporting. With additional hangar, industrial and testing space available, we are well positioned to support other companies working to build the future of aviation." The milestone further establishes Clinton County as a destination for next-generation aviation and transportation technology. Heart Aerospace joins a growing group of innovative companies and institutions utilizing the region's infrastructure, workforce and strategic proximity to major United States and Canadian markets. "This is exactly the kind of opportunity we envisioned as we worked to build Clinton County's reputation as a hub for advanced transportation and sustainable aviation," said Molly Ryan, Executive Director of the County of Clinton Industrial Development Agency and Clinton County Director of Economic Development. "Heart Aerospace could have chosen locations around the world for this milestone, and the fact that this historic flight took place in Plattsburgh speaks volumes about our airport, our regional assets and the relationships that made it possible. We are also developing the talent aviation companies need through programs such as Clinton Community College's Mechanical Technology A.A.S. degree, helping ensure that companies locating here have access to both world-class infrastructure and a skilled workforce. Our goal now is to build upon this achievement, support Heart's continued success and ensure that today's global attention creates additional opportunities for Clinton County." Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-30, a conventional fixed-wing, 30-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner, for FAA Part 25 certification. The company is targeting entry into service in 2031 and has received customer commitments from major air carriers including United Airlines, Air Canada and JSX. About Plattsburgh International Airport Plattsburgh International Airport is owned and operated by Clinton County and serves New York's North Country, northern New England and southern Quebec. The airport offers commercial passenger service through Allegiant Air and supports cargo, general aviation and emerging aerospace and transportation technologies. Its aviation infrastructure includes an 11,750-foot concrete runway with 1,000 feet of paved overrun at each end, a 12-million-square-foot concrete ramp, approximately 1.5 million square feet of aviation-related industrial space, more than 200 acres of developable ramp space and several 24,000-square-foot hangars. The airport also operates a U.S. Customs and Border Protection general aviation federal inspection facility, allowing international aircraft to clear customs in Plattsburgh before continuing to other domestic destinations.

First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity. Airline-backed venture aims to develop a hybrid-electric commercial aircraft. Heart Aerospace's X1 demonstrator is an all-electric aircraft. Its test flights will inform development of a hybrid-electric airliner. The first flight of the largest battery-electric aircraft to take to the skies lasted nearly half an hour while costing just $5 of electricity. That aviation feat comes at a time when jet fuel prices have skyrocketed because of the US war with Iran. The test flight of Heart Aerospace's X1 demonstrator aircraft took place at Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York on August 12. The X1 aircraft is comparable in size to a small regional airliner and can achieve a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 25,000 pounds with the help of four wing-mounted electric motors. The battery-electric propulsion system delivered more than one megawatt of power during the maiden flight. ADVERTISING All-electric aircraft can offer quieter and cleaner flight without the emissions that come from burning jet fuel. They may also prove more reliably cost-effective than conventional aircraft that come with jet fuel costs subject to geopolitical disruptions. But the initial success of the X1 demonstrator does not mean Heart Aerospace is planning to commercialize an all-electric aircraft. Current battery-electric systems can only typically sustain short flights of about 100 to 200 miles, which is why they have been limited to air taxi operations by companies such as Joby and Archer. Instead, testing of the X1 and a planned follow-on X2 aircraft will shape development of Heart Aerospace's main offering to the airline industry - a 30-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner known as the ES-30. That planned production aircraft for commercial flights would combine two inboard electric motors with commercial turboprop engines that run on jet fuel, enabling 125 miles of all-electric flight and 500 miles of flight range when operating in hybrid mode. Looking to innovation as jet fuel prices rise. Having the extended 500-mile range would enable the ES-30 hybrid-electric airliner to operate in popular short-haul corridors that connect major US and European cities. United Airlines has committed to eventually purchasing 100 aircraft from Heart Aerospace, with other major airline customers also having signed letters of intent, according to Flying magazine. Multiple airlines have also invested in Heart Aerospace's development of the ES-30 aircraft, including United Airlines, Air Canada and Mesa Air Group. Several issued statements celebrating the latest milestone. "Electric commercial aircraft have real potential to deliver a better travel experience for passengers while strengthening our business, and we look forward to Heart's continued development of the ES-30 and its potential future role in United's network," Michael Leskinen, chief financial officer of United Airlines, said in a press release. After starting out as a Swedish company, Heart Aerospace relocated to Los Angeles where it is developing the first pre-production ES-30 at a manufacturing facility. It anticipates flight testing starting in 2028 and aims to get certified for starting commercial service by 2031. Hybrid-electric aircraft may look even more promising at a time when jet fuel prices have soared around the world because of the US-Israeli war against Iran leading to major disruptions in Gulf energy exports typically shipped through the Strait of Hormuz. In the United States, jet fuel prices have increased from just over $2 per gallon before the start of the war in February 2022 to well over $3 per gallon. The global airline industry is expected to spend $350 billion on buying jet fuel in 2026 because of average jet fuel prices being up by almost 70 percent compared to the previous year, according to the International Air Transport Association. The increased spending on jet fuel now accounts for nearly a third of airlines' operating costs and is expected to halve profits. Heart Aerospace is claiming that the hybrid-electric ES-30 could reduce airline costs of operating regional aircraft by more than 40 percent. If the production aircraft can deliver on that promise, it may prove one of the wiser investments that airlines have made in recent years. Jeremy Hsu is a reporter exploring a wide range of topics across deep tech and AI. He has previously written for New Scientist, Scientific American, IEEE Spectrum, Wired, Undark Magazine and MIT Tech Review, among many other publications, about topics such as deepfakes, data centers, drones, battery tech, robotics, and GPS jamming. He also has a Master of Arts in Journalism from NYU, and a bachelor's degree from University of Pennsylvania in History and Sociology of Science, with a minor in English.