Is this truly overtaking on a bend?! Recently, Swedish aerospace company Heart Aerospace announced that its X1 demonstrator aircraft completed its first manned flight at Plattsburgh International Airport in New York State, USA.
With a wingspan of 106 feet (approx. 32.31 meters), a length of 76 feet (approx. 23.16 meters), and a takeoff weight exceeding 25,000 pounds (approx. 11,340 kilograms), this aircraft is the largest battery-powered electric plane to have ever completed a flight.
Powered entirely by onboard batteries through four wing-mounted electric motors, it carries no aviation fuel. The flight lasted approximately 27 minutes, reaching a maximum altitude of 1,100 feet (approx. 335.3 meters). Test maneuvers included taxiing, takeoff, climb, maneuvering, and landing.
During the flight, the aircraft's all-battery electric propulsion system delivered over 1 megawatt of power. According to the company, the electricity cost for the entire mission was approximately $5 (around 33.8 RMB).
However, it should be noted that while the X1's maiden flight was successful, it does not mean commercial deployment will happen soon. Limited by battery energy density, it lacks long-range flight capability and cannot currently meet broader aviation demands.
Furthermore, the X1 used in this test flight serves as a technology demonstrator for the future 30-seat regional airliner, the ES-30. The ES-30 is a hybrid-electric aircraft with extended range, utilizing a combination of batteries and a turbine generator for power output. Its large-capacity battery supports 200 km of all-electric flight.
The ES-30 has already secured letters of intent from airlines such as United Airlines and Air Canada, with plans to enter commercial service by 2031.