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Swedish startup Heart Aerospace has unveiled the full-scale demonstrator of its future 30-seat hybrid electric airliner. The prototype of the ES-30, which resembles a cross between a De Havilland Dash-7 and an ATR 52, features a glider-like 100-foot wingspan and four wing-mounted electric motors.
“It is a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of our team that we’re able to roll out a 30-seat aircraft demonstrator with a brand-new propulsion system, largely in-house, in less than two years,” said CEO Anders Forslund.
Although the demonstrator will not fly until the second quarter of 2025, it will be used in the meantime for ground operations testing, including charging and turnaround procedures. The Swedish Innovations Agency Vinnova funded part of the development. The next step involves building a preproduction prototype planned to fly in 2026. The final version is expected to have a battery range of 120 miles and a hybrid range twice that distance.
