Heart Aerospace’s X1 demonstrator made aviation history at Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York. The 25,000-pound aircraft, with a 106-foot wingspan, completed a 27-minute FAA-approved test flight, becoming the largest all-electric plane ever flown.

Powered by four wing-mounted electric motors delivering more than one megawatt, the X1 climbed to 1,100 feet, performed basic maneuvers, and landed safely. Remarkably, the entire mission used only about $5 worth of electricity—highlighting the dramatic cost advantage of battery propulsion amid rising jet-fuel prices.

The X1 is a full-scale technology demonstrator, not a passenger aircraft. It validates systems and aerodynamics for Heart’s planned ES-30, a 30-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner targeted for service in 2031. The company projects the ES-30 could cut operating costs by roughly 40 percent compared with conventional regional jets.

While pure-electric flight at this scale remains challenging due to battery weight and range limits, the successful test marks a major step toward cleaner, more affordable short-haul air travel. Heart Aerospace has already secured commitments from United Airlines, Air Canada, and JSX, signaling growing industry confidence in electric aviation’s future.