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Largest electric aircraft flies
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The gist
Heart Aerospace flew the largest electric aircraft, X1, with a 100-foot wingspan and 25,000-pound takeoff weight. The $5 flight signals a shift toward cheap regional air travel.
Background
Heart Aerospace, a Y Combinator-backed startup, aims to reduce the cost of air travel with hybrid-electric aircraft. The X1 is a full-scale demonstrator that flew in August 2026, marking a milestone in electric aviation, which has mostly focused on small aircraft. The company targets regional routes under two hours, where jet engines are inefficient and costly.
How it unfolded
- Aug 12, 2026Heart Aerospace flew its test aircraft X1 for the first time from Plattsburgh, New York, with a 100-foot wingspan and 25,000-pound takeoff weight.
- Sep 1, 2026Y Combinator released a video featuring CEO Anders Forslund discussing the X1's development and the $5 electricity cost for takeoff.
- Sep 2, 2026Media reports highlighted the X1's 27-minute test flight and its significance for regional aviation.
Who’s saying what
- CEO
- Anders Forslund says the $5 takeoff is the first shot in a war to replace the 40-year-old regional jet, focusing on short routes.
- Analysts
- Some analysts note the X1's flight doesn't prove commercial aviation will abandon jet fuel, but it demonstrates regional-scale electric flight is possible.