FAA grants $2.9 million to Heart Aerospace for hybrid ES‑36 development

The Federal Aviation Administration awarded $2.9 million to Heart Aerospace for a 24‑month development and demonstration programme, which the company will match to create a total research and development effort of $5.8 million under Phase IV of the FAA’s Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise (CLEEN) programme.

The initiative, called Project HYPER, will move from ground testing to demonstration flights using a pre‑production ES‑36, with the first flight targeted for 2028; the ES‑36 employs a series‑hybrid architecture with two 1.65‑megawatt electric motors and a megawatt‑class turbogenerator, while its Total Hybrid Electric Management and Integration System (THEMIS) will coordinate batteries, generators and electric motors.