27 minutes in the air for 5 dollars: the plane that may change the world of aviation
A significant step on the way to electric aviation: the X1 experimental plane of the company "Heart Aerospace" completed its maiden flight this week at a regional airport in upstate New York. The plane, which the company defines as the largest in the world flying using batteries only, stayed in the air for 27 minutes, reached an altitude of about 1,100 feet, and was operated throughout the entire flight using electricity.
A significant step on the way to electric aviation: the X1 experimental plane of the company "Heart Aerospace" completed its maiden flight this week at a regional airport in upstate New York. The plane, which the company defines as the largest in the world flying using batteries only, stayed in the air for 27 minutes, reached an altitude of about 1,100 feet, and was operated throughout the entire flight using electricity. There was only one pilot on the plane and no passengers.
Electric cars have already become a common sight on the roads, but transferring the same revolution to the skies is a much more complex task. Now, a new experiment shows what one of the stages on the way there might look like. The X1 plane, developed by the company Heart Aerospace, completed its first flight using batteries only. This is an exceptionally large experimental plane: its wingspan reaches about 32 meters, its length is about 23 meters, and its weight is more than 25,000 pounds – over 11 tons.
The plane was designed with a size suitable for about 30 seats, but there were no passengers on the test flight. Only one pilot was on board. During the 27 minutes it spent in the air, the plane reached an altitude of about 1,100 feet. According to the company's founder and CEO, Anders Forslund, "With the first flight of the X1, Heart Aerospace has demonstrated electric flight at the scale of a commercial passenger plane."
One of the prominent figures published by the company concerns the price: it claims that the electricity consumed in the test flight cost only 5 dollars. However, this figure does not mean that a commercial flight on such a plane will cost a few dollars. This is the cost of energy only, which does not include other significant expenses such as crew, airport usage, maintenance, insurance, and the long-term wear and tear of the batteries.
Nevertheless, the company believes that electric propulsion could reduce a significant part of aircraft operating costs in the future. Electric motors include fewer moving parts than regular aircraft engines, and therefore they may require less maintenance work. In addition, airlines will be less dependent on jet fuel prices, which can change sharply following events in the world.
Forslund said that "commercial electric planes have the potential to fundamentally change the economics of airlines, and eventually lower the cost of flying for passengers." Despite the success of the experiment, the X1 is not a commercial passenger plane that is about to start flying on regular routes. It is intended mainly to test the technology in preparation for the next plane the company wants to develop.
The main goal of Heart Aerospace is a plane called the ES-30, which is supposed to be hybrid-electric and contain 30 passengers. The company aims to put it into service in 2031. According to the company, a combination of fuel and maintenance savings could make operating the ES-30 about 40% cheaper compared to regular regional planes of a similar size. Major airlines, including United and Air Canada, have already expressed interest in the future model.
However, the larger a plane is, the more energy it needs. To store it, large and heavy batteries are required – and their weight makes it difficult for the plane to carry passengers and cargo at the same time. There is also a significant difference compared to a regular plane. A plane using fuel becomes lighter as the flight progresses and the fuel is burned. A battery, on the other hand, remains at almost the same weight even after the energy in it has been used.
According to the data published by the company, the electric flight range is only about 200 kilometers. This is still not enough to practically replace a large part of regional flights, especially considering the need to maintain energy reserves for emergencies. The planned ES-30 is supposed to combine batteries with a combustion engine that will be used to extend the range. Thus, according to the company, it will be possible to reach a maximum range close to about 800 kilometers.
Heart Aerospace is not the only company trying to move electric propulsion from the road to the skies. In recent years, several small electric planes have been developed, including an electric racing plane by Rolls-Royce and a six-seat electric seaplane by Harbour Air. At the same time, companies like Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are developing small electric aircraft intended mainly for short flights within urban areas and between city centers and airports.
The motivation is not only economic. The aviation industry is responsible for about 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and in addition, planes emit other substances that affect the climate. Switching to electricity produced from clean sources may reduce part of the environmental impact of flights. However, the main technological obstacle remains the battery. Existing battery technology still struggles to provide enough energy for large planes without adding enormous weight.
Therefore, the maiden flight of the X1 does not herald that electric passenger planes are about to replace the planes we know soon. Its significance lies elsewhere: it showed that it is possible to fly an experimental plane at a scale approaching that of a regional passenger plane using batteries only. If battery technology continues to improve, it is possible that hybrid planes will be an intermediate stage on the way to full electric aviation. As of now, the company is aiming for 2031 – when it hopes that the technology tested on the X1 will already start carrying passengers.
