The Swedish startup Heart Aerospace, which is working on the development of the ES-19, a regional aircraft for up to 19 passengers, fully electric and with a range of up to 400 km, chose the Spanish company Aernnova, which specializes in the design and manufacture of structures, to work together on the design of the wing, fuselage, and empennage of the aircraft.
The fuselage of Heart Aerospace’s E-19 is made of aluminum, with retractable landing gear, a high wing, and a T-shaped tail. The fuselage is not cylindrical, to optimize the interior of the cabin. Powered by lithium batteries and fully electric motors, it will not emit any carbon emissions into the environment.
In addition, the company states that «it will offer significantly lower operating costs compared to turbine-powered aircraft of similar size. The ES-19 aircraft will also be quieter than its turboprop counterparts, with less vibration and noise. These characteristics make the aircraft ideal for the development of short-haul regional air routes».
Together, the agreement between the companies seeks to move towards the goal of having the aircraft certified for commercial operations by 2026. If so, it would be a major step towards the decarbonization of the industry, with an electric-powered aircraft to serve the regional market.
Anders Forslund, founder, and CEO of Heart Aerospace stated that «Aernnova has an impressive proven track record and outstanding industry reputation. We are thrilled to have partnered with them for the design of the ES-19 airframe which will bring the expertise of a world leader in aerostructure design, manufacturing, and certification to our project».
Ricardo Chocarro, CEO of Aernnova, said that the company is «proud to be part of this unique and exciting project with Heart Aerospace, in which we expect to bring our experience of more than 28 years in the development, manufacture, certification, and support of aircraft structures. Developing this new electric aircraft represents a breakthrough in aviation and we are delighted to be able to contribute to it».
The Spanish firm’s statement emphasizes Aernnova’s commitment to contribute to the goal of zero net carbon emissions by 2050, in which they intend to play a leading role in the achievement of that goal. «Technological Development and Innovation are one of Aernnova’s strategic growth vectors to meet this ambitious goal motivated by the need to reduce energy use, emissions and noise, adding value to products and services for our customers and securing a lasting positive impact on our society, economy, and environment,» they affirmed.
Heart Aerospace says, «Electrification changes the equation for regional air travel. Electric aircraft are affordable to buy, operate and maintain. Reliable, simple electric motors reduce maintenance costs by 90% compared to turboprops, and intelligent electronic monitoring reduces inspection needs. Most importantly, fuel costs are reduced by 50% to 75%».
