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Heart Aerospace has unveiled the ES-36, a 36-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft that replaces the company’s earlier 30-seat ES-30 design.
Icelandair signed a letter of intent for five ES-30 aircraft in 2022, but neither company has announced whether that plan will transfer to the new model.
New ES-36 Adds Six Seats While Icelandair’s Five-Aircraft Plan Awaits Clarification
- Heart says the ES-36 carries six more passengers and 20% more payload without increasing maximum take-off weight or battery capacity.
- The company targets a first flight in the second half of 2028 and entry into service in 2031.
- JSX has placed a deposit-backed order for 50 aircraft with rights for 50 more.
Range and certification targets remain ahead
The redesigned aircraft uses two nacelles and a series-hybrid system. Heart says it is targeting an all-electric range of 200 kilometres with reserves and a hybrid range of 1,200 kilometres with reserves.
Those figures, along with a claim of operating costs at least 40% below legacy regional aircraft, are company targets rather than independently demonstrated performance. Heart says the first pre-production ES-36 is being built in Los Angeles and that certification will proceed under US Federal Aviation Administration Part 25 rules.
Icelandair’s connection to the programme dates to its 2022 letter of intent for five ES-30 aircraft and participation on Heart’s advisory board. Iceland Review recently reported that the earlier design was moving into flight testing. The companies have not publicly confirmed whether Icelandair’s proposed purchase will be converted to ES-36 aircraft.
The project belongs to a wider effort to electrify short regional flights. Iceland has already hosted demonstration flights by a fully electric aircraft, although commercial passenger service remains a longer-term prospect.
Sources: Heart Aerospace; Vísir.
Read more stories covering Icelandic society, politics, business, and culture at Iceland Review News.
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