The aircraft shown has a 100-foot wingspan and a 25,000-pound takeoff weight; the host says the electricity for its takeoff cost about $5. Forslund describes electric motors as simpler and quieter than jet engines, with fewer moving parts and little wear. He says jet engines are costly and inefficient on short routes, including during taxiing, takeoff, and landing.
The World’s Largest Electric Aircraft Just Flew
Speaker
Anders Forslund, CEO of Heart Aerospace, talks with Y Combinator at Heart’s Los Angeles headquarters about developing hybrid-electric regional aircraft, from early prototypes to the company’s first flight.
Forslund traces the idea to his interest in aircraft and his work on jet engines, then describes researching airline needs before starting Heart. At YC, the company had letters of intent but little technology; it built a 400-kilowatt motor, which helped attract airline pre-orders and capital. A United Airlines inquiry that arrived in the company’s spam folder led to a customer relationship after the team demonstrated the motor.
Heart chose a conventional turboprop-like appearance while replacing the propulsion system. At its Los Angeles pilot plant, the team makes and tests components such as actuators that would traditionally come from suppliers. The facility functions as a test bench for aircraft systems and fault injection, while the battery lab compares cells on flight cycles, safety, cost, and energy density.
Forslund says battery-only aircraft need substantial reserves for diversion requirements, and batteries do not get lighter as fuel is consumed. Heart’s hybrid design uses a turboprop engine for extended range; Forslund describes up to 225 miles electrically and up to 500 miles with the hybrid system. He argues for an iterative approach that limits the impact of mistakes and emphasizes software and logic in aircraft safety.
Forslund says Heart is targeting the existing airline market, with up to 36 seats and established airport infrastructure, rather than the smaller flying-taxi market. He sees potential for lower noise and ticket prices to support more service from neighborhood airports. Longer term, he imagines larger aircraft and remote piloting, with autonomy advancing first in cargo.
Takeaways
- For hardware fundraising, tie each capital step to a concrete milestone, such as a working motor or aircraft component.
- Talk to prospective customers before building: Heart gathered airline interest before it had a functioning aircraft.
- Build in-house where multiple suppliers and long lead times slow experimentation.
- Design around operating constraints such as diversion reserves, not just best-case range.
- For early hardware companies, choose a problem you enjoy working on and find collaborators whose expertise complements your own.
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What was claimed 18
- metricelectric aircraft demonstrator: 25,000-pound takeoff weight
“A takeoff weight of 25,000 pounds.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- metricelectric aircraft demonstrator: 100-foot wingspan
“It's got a 100-foot wingspan.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- featureHeart Aerospace: Up to 125 miles on battery alone and up to 500 miles as a hybridUp to 125 miles on battery alone and up to 500 miles as a hybrid
“Its successor, the ES-30, will fly up to 125 miles on battery alone, up to 500 miles as a hybrid.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- ceo ofAnders Forslund CEO of Heart Aerospace
“He's the CEO of Heart Aerospace.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- built
“Seven years ago, Anders showed me this plane.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- metricHeart Aerospace: 40-person team
“Today, it's a 40-person team in L.A. building a real airliner.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- role atKlara is co-founder at Heart Aerospace
“It was Anders and his co-founder, Klara.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- featureHeart Aerospace: The plane uses electric motors in place of jet enginesThe plane uses electric motors in place of jet engines
“Heart's plane swapped the jet engine for electric motors.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- metricelectric motor: 400 kilowatts
“Then you look at the 400-kilowatt ones.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- featureelectric aircraft demonstrator: Eight battery packs across the fuselage floorEight battery packs across the fuselage floor
“It's eight packs across the floor of the fuselage.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- feature
United Airlines: Placed pre-orders for Heart’s aircraft“Then they came from United, and that attracted more capital.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- built
“We went from having the LOIs to building the 400-kilowatt motor.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- featureBraathens: Provided a letter of intent
“We got some LOIs from SAS and Braathens.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- featureSAS: Provided a letter of intent
“We got some LOIs from SAS and Braathens.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- integrates withHeart Aerospace integrates with
Y Combinator“With YC, we were all focused on getting some early interest from airlines.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- featureHeart Aerospace: Aircraft designed for up to 36 passengers; typically configured for 30
“You can fit up to 36 passengers.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- featureHeart Aerospace: Hybrid operation extends range to 500 miles
“You fly up to 500 miles with a hybrid system operational range.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
- metricHeart Aerospace: First flight on August 12 in Plattsburgh, New York
“Their first flight on Wednesday, August 12, in Plattsburgh, New York.”
YouTube Unverified1 source· Talk
