World’s Largest Battery-Electric Aircraft Makes First Flight in Plattsburgh

The world’s largest battery-electric aircraft has completed its first flight at Plattsburgh International Airport. Heart Aerospace says its X1 demonstrator flew for 27 minutes Wednesday, reaching 1,100 feet and using more than one megawatt of electric power. The 25,000-pound aircraft is being used to test technology for the company’s planned 30-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner, expected to enter service in 2031.

Ed Histed

Ed launched his radio career in 1975 and has spent more than five decades in the broadcasting industry. During that time, he has served in a wide range of roles including Air Personality, News Director, Sales Manager, Operations Manager, and General Manager at numerous radio stations in various markets across the country. Beyond on-air and management responsibilities, Ed has also worked extensively on the technical side of broadcasting. His background includes RF engineering and information technology, with particular experience configuring digital automation systems and remote voice-tracking platforms used by stations across the country. Ed was also among a select group of industry professionals invited by Google to its California headquarters following the company’s acquisition of Scott Studios. He was one of just 12 broadcasters nationwide chosen to participate in discussions and provide input during the design and rollout of Google’s digital broadcast automation platform. Although the majority of Ed’s career—spanning roughly four decades—was rooted in music radio, he transitioned into news and information programming in 2012. He says the move into spoken-word broadcasting was a natural evolution after decades of experience in multiple areas of the industry.