World's largest all-electric plane completes maiden flight

Heart Aerospace's 25,000-lb X1 all-electric demonstrator aircraft completed a 27-minute FAA flight test on August 12, 2026, over Plattsburgh, New York, with a 106-foot wingspan comparable to regional turboprops. The hybrid-electric production model ES-30 is projected to reduce operating costs 40% versus conventional regional aircraft.

The X1 is a demonstrator; the production ES-30 hybrid model remains in development. Battery energy density remains lower than aircraft fuel, limiting current range and payload.