Heart Aerospace, a leading Swedish innovator in hybrid-electric aviation, has unveiled its first full-scale demonstrator, marking a major advancement in the development of its 30-seat regional hybrid-electric aircraft, the ES-30.
Almost entirely constructed within Heart Aerospace’s own Gothenburg facility, the new demonstrator embodies the company’s dual focus on advancing both aircraft design and the production processes that will shape the future of sustainable aviation. By controlling these aspects in-house, the company is able to innovate more rapidly and efficiently.
Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, explains: “The aerospace industry is entering a new era, with roughly a 30-year cycle of innovation in motion. Given that we now have less than 25 years to decarbonise the sector, it’s crucial that we accelerate the development and market entry of net-zero technologies.” Forslund continues, “Thanks to our highly skilled team, we’ve achieved a remarkable milestone, rolling out a 30-seat demonstrator equipped with an entirely new propulsion system, predominantly developed in-house, in under two years.”
Heart X1: A Platform for Innovation
The demonstrator, named Heart Experimental 1 (Heart X1), features an impressive 32-meter wingspan and will be central to the rigorous testing and development process of the ES-30. The initial phase of testing will focus on ground-based operations, including key areas such as charging functionality, taxiing efficiency, and rapid turnaround procedures.
Scheduled for its first fully electric flight in the second quarter of 2025, Heart X1 will undergo months of intensive testing. These include system validations on and off the aircraft, ensuring that Heart’s innovative technologies meet both performance and safety standards before moving to the next development phase.
Support from Innovation Agencies
The development of Heart X1 has been made possible in part by financial backing from Vinnova, Sweden’s Innovation Agency. This collaboration between government and industry has been instrumental in pushing forward the critical technologies required to bring hybrid-electric aviation closer to commercial reality.
According to Ben Stabler, Chief Technology Officer at Heart Aerospace: “Aviation requires nothing short of a revolution in both product development and manufacturing processes, similar to the transformation we’ve witnessed in industries like automotive and space. We’re taking those lessons and applying them to aerospace in ways that haven’t been done before.”
Towards Full-Scale Production
With the Heart X1 now in testing, the company’s attention will soon turn to the next major step—creating the pre-production prototype known as Heart X2. This prototype will build upon insights gained from Heart X1 and take the ES-30 program closer to full commercial viability.
The Heart X2 is scheduled for hybrid flight tests in 2026, where it will demonstrate the company’s advanced Independent Hybrid Propulsion System. This system will combine electric and conventional fuel propulsion, extending the aircraft’s operational range while minimising emissions. Notably, Heart Aerospace was recently awarded a $4.1 million grant under the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Fuelling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition (FAST) program, which will be used to develop the management system for this hybrid-electric propulsion.
Path to Certification and Commercialisation
Following the successful testing and development of Heart X2, Heart Aerospace plans to establish a pilot manufacturing facility, where it will begin prototyping the final version of the ES-30. This factory will incorporate the latest in automation, composite manufacturing techniques, and data-driven production methods, setting the stage for high-quality, repeatable aircraft manufacturing processes.
The ultimate goal is to achieve type certification for the ES-30 by the end of the decade. With its ability to seat 30 passengers and operate in an environmentally friendly manner, the ES-30 is expected to revolutionise short-haul regional air travel. It will offer a zero-emission electric range of 200 kilometres, with an extended hybrid range of 400 kilometres, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of regional aviation.
