Canada-based eVTOL developer Horizon Aircraft has successfully completed initial hover testing of its Cavorite X5 scale prototype.

CEO Brandon Robinson says: “This aircraft has exceeded expectations during initial hover testing. It is extremely stable, is capable of full hover at only 65 per cent power and has hovered with 20 per cent of its fans purposely disabled in order to test system redundancy. This is a large scale aircraft with a 22 foot wingspan, over 15 feet in length and capable of speeds over 175 mph. It continues to yield valuable data that is constantly improving our full scale design.”

Horizon's patented eVTOL concept allows the aircraft to fly 98 per cent of its mission in a very low-drag configuration like a traditional aircraft and is one of the only eVTOL aircraft currently able to do so. Flying most of the mission as a normal aircraft is safer, more efficient and will be easier to certify than radical new eVTOL designs. The full scale aircraft will also be powered by a hybrid electric system that can recharge the battery array in-flight while providing additional system redundancy.

Horizon Aircraft plans to move to transition flight testing in Q1 2023 to the ACE Climatic Wind Tunnel located near Toronto, Ontario.