Heart Aerospace has unveiled the ES-36, a 36-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner and the company’s production aircraft. Alongside the unveiling, air carrier JSX announced a deposit-backed purchase agreement for 50 ES-36 aircraft, with purchase rights for 50 more. The agreement expands the companies’ existing partnership and advances JSX’s plans for a regional fleet designed to expand nonstop connectivity from community airports.
The ES-36 evolves the previously announced Heart ES-30 with a simplified two-nacelle airframe and series-hybrid electric propulsion architecture designed to improve the Heart production aircraft’s operating costs compared with legacy regional aircraft.
Compared with the ES-30, the ES-36 adds six passenger seats and 1,415 pounds of payload capacity, increasing both by 20 percent while retaining the same maximum take-off weight and battery capacity as the prior design. Heart says its aerodynamically optimised airframe allows more capacity to be dedicated to passengers and payload, increasing the aircraft’s revenue potential, while the shift from four nacelles and propellers to two reduces the number of propulsion components to maintain and is intended to lower maintenance costs.
Superseding the ES-30’s four-engine independent-hybrid configuration, the ES-36 adopts twin series-hybrid powertrains, with each utilising a 1.65-megawatt electric motor to drive a propeller. Ground-charged onboard batteries provide an all-electric range of 125 miles (200 kilometres), plus reserves, allowing operators to serve short-haul routes with no fuel burn during all-electric operation.
For longer missions, the ES-36 has a hybrid range of 745 miles (1,200 kilometres), plus reserves, enabled by a megawatt-class turbogenerator in each of its two powertrains. Each turbogenerator is powered by its own compact, commercially available gas turbine, which generates electricity in flight to supplement the batteries and power the electric propulsion motors. Heart says this range-extending capability is designed to provide the range and flexibility of a regional aircraft while retaining the operating-cost benefits associated with electrification.
Ben Stabler, Chief Technology Officer at Heart, said, “The ES-36 design is a direct result of what Heart learned designing, building, testing and flying our X1 demonstrator aircraft. Those learnings have helped us make the production aircraft more capable in the air and more productive for operators. The ES-36 carries more passengers and payload, creating greater revenue-generating potential for operators like JSX, while targeting operating costs at least 40 percent lower than legacy regional aircraft.”
JSX’s agreement converts its 2023 letter of intent with Heart into a deposit-backed purchase commitment and secures early delivery positions for the air carrier, advancing its partnership with Heart Aerospace from aircraft development towards fleet introduction.
The ES-36 is intended to support JSX growth at the community airports it already serves, including Santa Monica, Westchester County, Naples and Napa Valley. Heart says its short-field performance supports operations at constrained airfields, while its compact footprint is intended to help JSX make more efficient use of limited ramp, gate and hangar space. With a 95-foot wingspan, approximately 11 feet shorter than the ES-30’s, the ES-36 is designed to support higher-frequency service and greater aircraft utilisation at regional airfields.
The ES-36 is also intended to broaden the range of community airports that JSX can serve. Heart says its all-electric operations, with zero emissions and lower noise, could help address community concerns that may constrain service, while lower operating costs could make more nonstop routes viable for JSX and support lower fares for travellers. The company says these factors could support more destinations, greater frequency and additional travel options.
Alex Wilcox, JSX CEO, said, “JSX is proud to back the development of the next-generation aircraft that will deliver the best travel experience for our Customers, expand the destinations available to them, and strengthen our business. The hybrid-electric ES-36 will enable more nonstop routes from more convenient airports while further elevating the award-winning, no-middle-seat onboard experience that JSX Customers love. We’re excited to work with Heart to tailor the ES-36 to JSX’s operations.”
The agreement also establishes a working partnership between the companies to optimise the ES-36 for JSX’s operating model, across two priorities: enhancing the onboard experience and saving passengers time. Heart and JSX will collaborate on cabin configuration, pairing the aircraft’s lower-noise all-electric operations with JSX’s existing cabin environment. The companies will also work together on charging and turnaround procedures, route planning and airport readiness.
Anders Forslund, Founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, said, “With the ES-36, Heart is bringing to market a more capable aircraft with an even stronger value proposition for air carriers, and JSX’s partnership underscores that opportunity. We’re grateful to Alex for believing in Heart early and championing electric aviation as he builds JSX’s fleet of the future. We look forward to working side by side with the JSX team to bring the ES-36 into service in order to deliver exceptional economics for JSX and an unparalleled travel experience for its Customers.”
The unveiling of the ES-36 follows the mid-August first flight of the company’s X1 demonstrator, which Heart describes as the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown and the world’s first electric airliner prototype to take flight. Heart is now building its first pre-production ES-36 aircraft at the company’s pilot manufacturing plant in Los Angeles, targeting first flight in the second half of 2028 and entry into service in 2031, following FAA Part 25 certification.
