Heart Unveils Redesigned Flagship Hybrid-Electric Airliner, JSX Order

New clean-sheet production aircraft improves on previously announced design’s payload capacity, simplicity, and capabilities.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 07:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

JSX converted its letter of intent for Heart’s ES-30 to a deposit-backed purchase commitment for 50 of the manufacturer’s new flagship ES-36, unveiled Wednesday. [Credit: Heart Aerospace]

Key Takeaways:

Heart Aerospace has introduced the ES-36, a 36-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft, pivoting from its previous 30-seat ES-30. The ES-36 offers 20 percent more capacity, a simplified two-propeller design, an extended hybrid-electric range of 745 miles, and targets 40 percent lower operating costs.
JSX has converted its letter of intent into a deposit-backed order for 50 ES-36 aircraft, with purchase rights for 50 more, signaling strong confidence in the design to expand its next-generation regional fleet.
The ES-36 features a new series-hybrid propulsion system with twin turbogenerators and an aerodynamically optimized airframe. Heart aims for a preproduction aircraft first flight in the second half of 2028, with Part 25 certification targeted for 2031.

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Hybrid-electric regional aircraft developer Heart Aerospace has pivoted to a new flagship aircraft intended to deliver 20 percent more passenger and payload capacity and better economics than its previously announced ES-30, with JSX placing a deposit-backed order for the clean-sheet design.

The company’s new ES-36 will have 36 seats, compared to 30 on its previous flagship design, and shift from four nacelles and propellers to two, which Heart said will reduce drag, simplify the integration of the hybrid-electric propulsion system, shrink the size of the wing, and lower maintenance costs. Like the ES-30, the ES-36 targets 40 percent lower operating costs versus legacy regional aircraft.