Horizon Aircraft has announced today that it has increased the size of its Cavorite eVTOL to a seven-seat capacity model.
“Initially the company had planned to design and produce a five-seat aircraft,” said Horizon. “However, due to positive flight-testing results of its 50%-scale prototype alongside sophisticated aerodynamic, structural, and electrical analysis, the company now believes that it can expand its initial prototype to include room for one pilot and six passengers. Potential customers in the medevac, business aviation and commercial cargo sectors have advised the Company that larger aircraft with lower passenger seat mile costs better aligned with their needs. The Company’s new enlarged prototype design is now called “Cavorite X7”, replacing the Cavorite X5.
“The Cavorite X7 aircraft would have a gross weight of an estimated 5,500 lbs with a projected useful load of 1,500 lbs. With an estimated maximum speed of 250 miles per hour and an average range of over 500 miles with fuel reserves, the company believes that this experimental aircraft, if eventually licensed for commercial use, would be well-positioned to excel in medical evacuation, critical supply delivery, disaster relief, and special military missions. The company believes that the proposed aircraft would also be attractive for Regional Air Mobility – moving people and cargo 50 to 500 miles.”
The Cavorite X7 is being designed with a hybrid electric power system so it could, after its vertical takeoff, re-charge its batteries enroute when it is flying in a configuration like a traditional aircraft. After a vertical landing and completion of a mission, the Company is designing the Cavorite X7 to recharge its battery array in under 30 minutes to be ready for its next mission.
Brandon Robinson, CEO of Horizon Aircraft, said: “The shift to a seven-seat aircraft has been discussed since the beginning of our hybrid eVTOL initial concept. It’s a size that just makes sense commercially. We are very confident our unique fan-in-wing technology can support this new and larger platform and our testing results have provided us with confidence that we can potentially scale to an even larger aircraft.”
Horizon believes that its innovative approach and technology will allow the Cavorite X7 to fly 98% of its mission in a very low-drag configuration like a traditional aircraft, it says.
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