Heart Aerospace
Anders Forslund
Data verified as of Jul 21, 2026
Summary
Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-30, a 30-seat clean-sheet hybrid-electric regional aircraft for short-haul routes from smaller airports. Founded in Sweden and now headquartered in El Segundo, California, the company is following an iterative development path built around the Heart X1 and X2 prototypes while bringing more of its batteries, actuation systems, software, and hybrid-electric hardware in-house. In late May 2026 the all-electric X1 demonstrator completed low-speed taxi testing at Plattsburgh International Airport in New York, advancing its ground-test campaign toward FAA special airworthiness certification and a first flight still targeted for 2026. Heart says it has raised $185M to date, secured 250 aircraft orders plus 120 options and purchase rights, and is targeting ES-30 type certification in 2029.
Main Products
What's Next
HX-1 all-electric first flight at Plattsburgh
Heart's most recent public schedule moved the maiden flight of the X1 all-electric demonstrator into 2026 after a delay tied to a composite-wing rebuild. The X1 completed low-speed taxi testing at Plattsburgh in late May 2026 and is now progressing through its ground-test program (next, higher-speed taxi runs) toward FAA special airworthiness certification ahead of the first flight, which had still not taken place as of late July 2026 — the company continues to say first flight is expected shortly.
HX-2 hybrid-electric flight demonstration
The X2 pre-production prototype is Heart's next major aircraft after X1 and is meant to demonstrate the company's Independent Hybrid propulsion system and validate the integrated hybrid-electric stack, in-house subsystems, and production methods needed for the ES-30. It remains scheduled for a hybrid-electric flight in 2026; Anders Forslund has said the HX-1 slippage has only a minor effect on the HX-2 schedule because the two aircraft are being developed in parallel.
Heart's current public target is ES-30 type certification in 2029, a milestone that would put the program among the first certified hybrid-electric commercial aircraft efforts. The schedule still hinges on first getting the all-electric X1 demonstrator airborne and maturing the X2 prototype's integrated hybrid-electric powertrain.
Prepare ES-30 for commercial service
Beyond certification, Heart says its goal is to bring electric flight into commercial regional service by the end of the decade while building the surrounding infrastructure and services stack, backed by 250 firm orders from United, Mesa, Air Canada and Rockton.
Operations & Revenue
Pre-revenue. Heart consolidated around its El Segundo headquarters in 2025 and through the first half of 2026 has continued iterating on the Heart X1 demonstrator and preparing the Heart X2 prototype. In late May 2026 the X1 completed low-speed taxi testing at Plattsburgh, moving its ground-test program toward FAA special airworthiness certification; as of late July 2026 the all-electric maiden flight is still pending after multiple delays, with the company saying first flight is expected shortly and still within 2026.
Revenue Streams
Future aircraft sales backed by 250 firm orders from United Airlines (100), Mesa Air Group (100), Air Canada (30), and Rockton (20), plus 120 options and purchase rights and 191 letters of intent.
Key Metrics
Timeline
In late May 2026 Heart's all-electric X1 demonstrator completes low-speed taxi testing at its flight-test base at Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York — a key step in the ground-test campaign ahead of FAA special airworthiness certification and the aircraft's maiden flight, which the company still targets for 2026.
Heart relocates its corporate headquarters from Gothenburg to Los Angeles, closes Swedish operations, and says the move will support upcoming Heart X1 experimental flights and the future Heart X2 prototype. The company also discloses a new $40M investment alongside the transition.
Funding
Cumulative disclosed raise · dated rounds