Heart Aerospace to focus on proprietary propulsion system at US hub
Swedish hybrid-electric aircraft designer Heart Aerospace is to focus on developing its own propulsion system for the company’s clean-sheet, ES-30 regional hybrid-electric aircraft as it opens a new US research…
Swedish hybrid-electric aircraft designer Heart Aerospace is to focus on developing its own propulsion system for the company’s clean-sheet, ES-30 regional hybrid-electric aircraft as it opens a new US research and development hub.
Working closely with Heart Aerospace’s Swedish headquarters, the Los Angeles-based R&D centre will “focus on the advancement of Heart’s hybrid-electric propulsion system and other key technologies,” explains the company. Its full-scale aircraft demonstrator will also be relocated to the US from Heart Aerospace’s facilities in Gothenburg, Sweden, with Heart noting that North America has now emerged as its “primary market”.
“The establishment of our US R&D hub signifies our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation in aviation. We are working on a solution we call independent hybrid propulsion, and we aim to demonstrate electric flight during [the] next year,” highlighted co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace Anders Forslund. The US hub will be led by Benjamin Stabler, who – in his new role as chief technology officer – will recruit a team for the research and development facility.
The ES-30 aircraft will feature a standard seating capacity of 30 passengers, delivering a fully-electric zero-emission range of 200km and an extended hybrid range of 400km. Heart Aerospace has already secured 250 orders for the platform, with options and purchase rights for another 120, alongside letters of intent for a further 191 units.
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