Horizon Aircraft has unveiled its latest design update for a hybrid electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the Cavorite X7. The new design aims to accommodate seven seats, an expansion from the company’s initial plan of a five-seat aircraft.
This shift in design followed favorable outcomes from flight tests conducted on a 50% scale prototype, coupled with in-depth aerodynamic, structural, and electrical evaluations. Feedback from potential clients in medical evacuation, business aviation, and commercial cargo sectors indicated that a larger aircraft, presenting lower per-seat mile costs, is more in line with their operational requirements.
With specifications like an estimated gross weight of 5,500 lbs, a useful load projection of 1,500 lbs, a maximum speed of around 250 miles per hour, and a range exceeding 500 miles, the Cavorite X7 is posited to be a potential candidate for various roles. These include medical evacuations, disaster relief operations, critical supply deliveries, special military missions, and Regional Air Mobility, which encompasses transporting people and cargo over distances ranging from 50 to 500 miles.
A distinguishing feature of the Cavorite X7 is its hybrid electric power system. The aircraft is being designed to recharge its batteries while in horizontal flight. Furthermore, the design envisages a battery recharge time of under 30 minutes following a vertical landing.
CEO of Horizon Aircraft, Brandon Robinson, shared that the transition to the seven-seat design had been a consideration since the inception of the company’s hybrid eVTOL project. The advancements and testing results have reinforced their belief in the feasibility of even larger aircraft in the future.
Horizon’s approach with the Cavorite X7 emphasizes traditional aircraft dynamics, aiming for the craft to fly in a low-drag configuration for about 98% of its mission. This conventional flight mode, the company opines, not only augments safety but might also streamline certification processes as compared to other avant-garde eVTOL designs. A key aspect of the Cavorite X7’s hybrid electric system is the in-flight and post-flight recharging mechanism of its battery array, along with a significant focus on system redundancy.
As the company progresses with its full-scale aircraft development, it remains committed to rigorous testing, leveraging insights from its 50%-scale prototype to minimize technical risks. The innovation and potential of the Cavorite X7 have garnered attention in the aviation sector, leading Horizon Aircraft to secure several grants and even a research and development contract award from the U.S. Department of Defense.
