JSX Orders 50+50 Heart ES-36 Hybrid-Electric Aircraft

Heart Aerospace has unveiled its new production model, the ES-36 hybrid-electric aircraft with the announcements of a 50 aircraft firm order from JSX, with 50 options. This order converts a 2023 letter of intent into a firm order, including deposits and early delivery positions. The ES-36 Aircraft Image: Heart Aerospace Heart Aerospace has refined its design from the earlier ES-30 model with a two-nacelle design rather than the four-nacelle design initially anticipated. The new design is intended to improve efficiency and cost, and provides a 20% increase in both passenger seats (36 to 30) and 1,415 additional pounds of payload capacity. The shift from the four-nacelle design to a two-nacelle design will reduce propulsion complexity, resulting in lower maintenance costs. The ES-36 will supersede the ES-30 as Heart’s initial commercial offering. The propulsion system entails twin series-hybrid power trains, each using a 1.65 megawatt electric motor to drive a propeller. On-board batteries, charged on the ground, enable an all-electric range of 125 miles with no fuel burn. The hybrid range of 745 miles utilizes a megawatt-class turbo generator in each of the power trains. The turbo-generators are powered by compact gas turbines that are commercially available and generate electricity in flight. “The ES-36 design is a direct result of what Heart learned designing, building, testing and flying our X1 demonstrator aircraft,” said Ben Stabler, Chief Technology Officer at Heart. “Those learning 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.” The JSX Order and Hybrid Plans The JSX agreement converts its 2023 letter of intent into a firm order backed by deposits. The ES-36 will be used by JSX to grow service at the airports it already serves, including Santa Monica, Westchester County, Naples, and Napa Valley. The short-field performance of the ES-36 enables operations at shorter airfields and its 11 foot shorter wingspan than the ES-30 enables easier airport integration. image: Heart Aerospace “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,” said Alex Wilcox, JSX CEO. “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.” JSX is planning significant electric operations, including 50+100 orders for the Aura Aero ERA 19 seat electric aircraft as well as 32+50 orders for the Electra eSTOL 9 seat hybrid-electric aircraft. Heart’s Founder and CEO, Anders Forsulnd, stated “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 Bottom Line Electric propulsion for aircraft continues to evolve, and the latest improvements to the Heart designs have resulted in a firm order, including deposits, for new aircraft. After the first flight of the X1 earlier this year, Heart Aerospace is refining its offering with the experience gained from its initial designs, and moving forward with its program. First flight for the ES-36 is expected in 2028 with deliveries beginning in 2031.

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