Heart Aerospace has announced a number of changes as it looks to step up the development of its ES-30 hybrid-electric aircraft.
The Swedish electric aircraft developer has named a new Chief Technology Officer, Benjamin Stabler, a veteran of SpaceX and electric rail management software firm Parallel Systems, who will direct efforts from the firm’s new Research & Development center in Los Angeles, California.
This is the first such establishment to be opened by Heart Aerospace outside its home country of Sweden, representing a significant milestone in the evolution of the six-year-old startup.
“We have an exciting time ahead of us as we enter a new phase of hardware testing, and I’m thrilled that Ben is joining our team. His experience and passion for innovation is just what Heart needs to advance on our mission to decarbonize and democratize air travel”, said Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace.
Plans are also afoot to relocate the company’s first full-scale demonstrator aircraft to the US research center as soon as it is ready, in order to showcase its proprietary hybrid-propulsion technology.
Although headquartered in Goteborg, Sweden, Heart Aerospace can trace its origins back to California, as its two Swedish founders, Andersa and Klara Forslund, launched the project at the renowned Bay Area accelerator Y Combinator in 2016.
As of May 2024, Heart Aerospace’s order book stands at 250 orders, plus 120 options and letters of intent for an additional 191 ES-30 aircraft.