Heart Aerospace has completed completed low-speed taxi tests with its first aircraft the X1 and is expected to move ahead to flight testing in the coming months.
The company, which was founded in Sweden but now conducts most of its development activities in the USA, is developing the ES-30 hybrid-electric regional aircraft.
The ES-30 will have a capacity of 30 passengers, a fully-electric range of 200km (125 miles) and an extended hybrid range of 400km (250 miles). The aircraft, which is intended for regional routes, will also have the capability to fly further with less passengers – up to 800km (500 miles) with 25 passengers.
Type Certification for the ES-30 is targeted for 2029.
The Heart Experimental 1 (Heart X1) demonstrator aircraft is the company’s first full-scale prototype in the ES-30’s development program and has a 32m (105ft) wingspan.
The Heart X1 demonstrator completed low-speed taxi testing at the company’s flight-test base at Plattsburgh International Airport in New York State. The tests form an important part of the ground-testing programme ahead of FAA special airworthiness certification and the aircraft’s first flight, which was initially planned to occur in 2025.
The X1 will validate key technologies, systems and procedures before further development of the final configuration planned for certification, said Heart.
