Heart Aerospace gets FAA greenlight for X1 demonstrator flight tests

On July 23, 2026, Heart Aerospace announced that it had received a Special Airworthiness Certificate in the Experimental Category (SAC-EC) from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

This permit will allow the startup to commence flight tests of its X1 hybrid-electric demonstrator, with the aim of validating and testing the design and technology which will be used in the future ES-30 hybrid-electric 30-seater regional airliner. 

Heart Aerospace first unveiled its X1 at a media event in Gothenburg, Sweden, in September 2024. Shortly after, the startup fully relocated to the United States, where it had already established a research and development center. 

Initially, the X1 flight test campaign had been expected to get underway by the end of 2025 or even earlier, but it has since suffered delays. However, Heart Aerospace has been conducting ground tests at Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG), in upstate New York. 

The issuance of the Plattsburgh International Airport followed an inspection visit to Plattsburgh by the FAA. The federal regulators evaluated the aircraft, its supporting technical documentation, and the flight-test program proposed by Heart Aerospace before giving the greenlight.  

“With our certificate now in hand, our full focus is on flight. We are ready to get X1 in the air.” said Anders Forslund, Founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, in a statement posted on the company’s website. 

No specific time frame has been provided for the start of the flight test campaign. 

AeroTime has reached out to Heart Aerospace for comment.

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