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Open-access content Tanya Weaver —
Mon 19 May 2025
Horizon Aircraft achieved a major milestone when its large-scale Cavorite X7 demonstrator became the first to transform between vertical lift and high-speed cruise modes using a fan-in-wing design.
Many companies around the world are working on electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) solutions. Most of these are aimed at short-haul flights in urban areas.
However, Horizon, a Canadian aerospace engineering company, is targeting various civilian and defence applications in the emerging regional air mobility market.
Its hybrid eVTOL aircraft will take off like a helicopter but then convert into a plane, with projected speeds up to 450km/h and operational ranges over 800km with fuel reserves.
The company first unveiled its Cavorite demonstrator prototype in 2021. Four years later, its remotely piloted Cavorite X7 ‘large-scale’ demonstrator, with a wingspan of 15 metres and 11.6 metres in length, has reached a major milestone in successfully completing a smooth transition flight, moving from vertical take-off to full wing-borne cruise before returning safely to a vertical landing.
The demonstrator flight (as shown above) helps validates Horizon’s fan-in-wing design, which allows the aircraft to shape-shift and transform between vertical lift and high-speed cruise modes.
Integrated into the wings are 14 lift fans that provide the required thrust for vertical take-off. Upon reaching a safe altitude and speed, sliding panels hide the fans, and the X7 flies like a normal plane.
Brian Robinson, chief engineer and co-founder of Horizon, said: “This incredible achievement validates our unique and robust approach to the transition phase of flight.
“In our aircraft, the transition phase was designed from the beginning to be a non-event, as there are no complicated multi-copter rotating nacelles or heavy tilt-wing mechanisms, and we have multiple layers of redundancy.
“The result is an extremely safe and stable transition, a vital part of eVTOL operations, and an area in which many of our competitors have faced serious challenges.”
The Cavorite is designed to carry six passengers plus a pilot. With a maximum gross weight of 2,500kg, it will be able to lift up to 680kg of cargo for vertical takeoffs, or 815kg for conventional runway launches.
However, it’s one thing building an aircraft and another getting it certified for flight. This is an area where many other eVTOL companies are struggling: getting past the testing stages into operation because of stringent regulations and safety rules.
Horizon announced a collaboration with Canada’s Flight Test Centre of Excellence in 2023 that will see the two companies work together to enable a smooth path towards certification.
Once testing and certification is complete, Horizon says it intends to scale unit production to meet expected demand from regional operators, emergency service providers and military customers.
Earlier this year, Horizon signed an agreement with Chilean helicopter operator Discovery Air Chile to lease five Cavorite X7 eVTOLs, with a projected delivery timeline of 2028.
Brandon Robinson, CEO and co-founder of Horizon, said: “From the beginning, we have focused on innovations that make the most operational sense with the best available technology. We are looking forward to proving this next on our full-scale, piloted technical demonstrator that is currently under construction.”
In April 2025, China’s civil aviation authority gave the green light for urban air mobility firm EHang to begin low-altitude commercial operations of its eVTOL aircraft.
Meanwhile, Vertical Aerospace, a Bristol-based company pioneering flying taxis in the UK, is undergoing the Civil Aviation Authority authorisation process at the UK’s first vertiport testbed.
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