Horizon’s Cavorite eVTOL prototype completes initial hover testing
Reports confirm the aircraft is extremely stable, is capable of full hover at only 65% power and has hovered with 20% of its fans purposely disabled.
Cavorite scale prototype. Photo Credit: Horizon Aircraft
According to several sources, (Toronto, Ont., Canada) has successfully completed initial hover testing of its half-scale Cavorite X5 electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) prototype. According to Airframer.com, the company plans to move to transition flight testing in Q1 2023 to the ACE Climatic Wind Tunnel located near Toronto, Ontario.
The 15-foot-long aircraft, confirmed by CW to use composites, features a 22-foot wingspan. It is capable of speeds over 250 kilometers per hour, a 310-mile range and a five-passenger capacity. According to , Cavorite’s design enables it to fly in a low-drag configuration and is safer, more efficient and easier to certify than “radical” new eVTOL designs.
Brandon Robinson, CEO, Horizon, notes that the “aircraft has exceeded expectations during initial hover testing. It is extremely stable, is capable of full hover at only 65% power and has hovered with 20% of its fans purposely disabled in order to test system redundancy ... It continues to yield valuable data that is constantly improving our full-scale design.”
In addition to its work with Cavorite, Horizon is part of a U.S. Air Force competition, AFWERX HSVTOL, to develop a concept for a high-speed VTOL aircraft.
Related Content
-
Beta begins Alia CTOL production aircraft flight testing
Flight of first production aircraft fresh off Beta’s full-scale manufacturing line in Vermont is followed by Special Airworthiness certification from the FAA.
-
Alef Aeronautics earns FAA approval to launch flying car
FAA certifies testing of California startup Alef’s all-electric composite vehicle, which is drivable on public roads and has VTOL capabilities.
-
Archer Aviation signs eVTOL aircraft purchase with Japan
Japan Airlines’ and Sumitomo’s joint venture company intends to purchase up to 100 Midnight aircraft to certify and commercialize AAM services across Japan.