World’s largest battery-electric aircraft completes historic 27-minute test flight powered by $5 electricity in New York: What's next

The world's largest battery-electric aircraft weighing 11 tonnes has flown — and its 27-minute test flight used only about $5 worth of electricity.

Sweden-founded, US-based Heart Aerospace flew its full-scale X1 demonstrator for the first time on Aug. 12, 2026, from Plattsburgh International Airport in New York.

The aircraft flew for 27 minutes, reached 335 metres (1,100 feet) and used an all-battery-electric propulsion system producing more than 1 MW.

The X1 itself is not the planned 30-seat commercial aircraft. It is a full-scale technology demonstrator designed to test the technologies, systems and manufacturing processes for Heart's ES-30 regional aircraft.

The ES-30 is hybrid-electric, not purely electric. Heart says it is designed for approximately 200 km of all-electric range and up to 800 km in hybrid mode.

The ES-30 is the planned all-electric 30-passenger fully electric aircraft with 200 km range, while the X1 is a demonstrator platform.

The $5 figure simply refers to the electricity consumed during this particular 27-minute experimental flight.

It does not include pilots, maintenance, airport charges, battery depreciation/replacement, aircraft financing, insurance or other airline operating costs.

In other words: $5 was the electricity bill for the test flight — not the total cost of flying the aircraft.

Heart Aerospace entered Y Combinator's W19 programme, beginning development of electric regional aircraft.

The company showcased its early ES-19 concept and began building interest among airlines and investors.

Heart raised $35 million, led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, with strategic investment from United Airlines and Mesa Air Group.

A smaller demonstrator flew to validate the electric propulsion and flight characteristics of Heart's aircraft concept.

Heart moved beyond the ES-19 concept and unveiled the 30-seat ES-30, its planned production regional aircraft.

The company raised $107 million to develop the X1 demonstrator and advance the ES-30 programme.

Heart rolled out the full-scale X1, a 32-metre aircraft designed specifically to test technologies for the ES-30.

The X1 underwent ground-service, charging, taxiing and turnaround tests — important because electric aircraft require new airport and charging procedures.

Heart established the X1 flight-test base at Plattsburgh, New York.

Heart's Los Angeles Pilot Plant came online to support production development for future aircraft.

The FAA issued a Special Airworthiness Certificate for the X1, allowing its flight-test campaign to begin.

The X1 completed its first flight, becoming the largest battery-electric aircraft to fly to date. It remained airborne for 27 minutes and reached 335 metres.

Heart plans flight testing of the pre-production ES-30/X2 programme, moving the technology closer to a production aircraft.

Heart currently targets 2031 for ES-30 entry into service and type certification.

The X1 isn't yet an electric replacement for an Airbus or Boeing. Its significance is regional aviation.

Heart is targeting the short-haul market where a 30-seat aircraft could connect smaller cities and airports with zero-emission electric flight on shorter sectors, while its hybrid system would provide substantially greater range.

The bigger breakthrough is that Heart has now flown a full-scale aircraft weighing more than 11 tonnes, with a 32-metre wingspan and megawatt-class electric propulsion — providing real-world data for a potential commercial regional aircraft.