Heart Aerospace has unveiled its ES-36, a 36-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft, alongside a deposit-backed agreement from US carrier JSX for 50 aircraft, with purchase rights for a further 50.
The ES-36 is the production version of the company’s previously announced ES-30 and features a simplified two-nacelle design and series-hybrid propulsion system aimed at lowering operating and maintenance costs.
The aircraft has six more seats and 1,415 pounds of additional payload capacity than the ES-30, a 20% increase in both, while retaining the same maximum take-off weight and battery capacity.
Heart said the ES-36 will have an all-electric range of 125 miles (200 km), plus reserves, and a hybrid range of 745 miles (1,200 km), plus reserves. Its twin powertrains each use a 1.65-megawatt electric motor, with onboard batteries supplemented by a gas-turbine-powered generator for longer flights.
The agreement with JSX expands an existing partnership and supports the airline’s plans for a regional fleet serving nonstop routes from community airports, Heart said.
