Canada’s Horizon Aircraft Unveils 50% Scale Prototype of the Electric Cavorite X5, Featuring 16 Unique Lift Fans.
Brandon Robinson, founder of Horizon Aircraft, with the Cavorite X5 prototype. (Photo: Horizon Aircraft)
Horizon Aircraft, an aerospace engineering company based in Toronto, has revealed a 50% scale prototype of its electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, the Cavorite X5, as reported by New Atlas on July 26. The Cavorite X5 boasts an impressive design and is a rare example of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle that completely encloses all of its lift fans.
With a wingspan of 6.7 meters and a fuselage length of 4.6 meters, the Cavorite X5 prototype weighs approximately 227 kg, making it far from just a small drone. This aircraft is equipped with 16 lift fans mounted within its long wings and a single push propeller at the rear.
Horizon Aircraft has applied for a patent for its unique wing design. The wings feature a split shell that can open to reveal the lift fans for vertical takeoff and landing operations, then close during forward flight to reduce drag, allowing the Cavorite X5 to achieve higher speeds. The aircraft is expected to reach a maximum speed of up to 450 km/h.
The Cavorite X5 is powered by an electric motor system that combines lithium batteries with a turbo generator, enabling a flight range of approximately 500 km. Depending on the mission, the turbo generator can operate continuously throughout the flight or switch to a “whisper mode” for quiet takeoffs and landings in urban areas or locations where stealth is required, according to Brandon Robinson, founder of Horizon Aircraft.
Horizon Aircraft plans to conduct careful testing of the Cavorite X5 prototype in the near future. The initial phase will involve ground testing, followed by tethered hover flights. After obtaining the necessary permits, Horizon Aircraft aims to conduct untethered hover tests around late August. Subsequently, they will test the prototype as a traditional fixed-wing aircraft, followed by investigations into the complex issues related to transitioning between hover mode and cruise mode.
A full-size Cavorite X5 prototype is also under development. However, Horizon Aircraft will need to secure additional funding to manufacture this aircraft.
Many companies worldwide are developing eVTOLs as the convenient transportation of the future. In January of this year, Joby Aviation’s Joby S4 aircraft conducted a test flight that the company claimed was the fastest recorded for an eVTOL, reaching speeds of 330 km/h. Meanwhile, the Jetson One aircraft from Swedish company Jetson made headlines in June for completing the world’s first commuting flight using an eVTOL. The company reported that all vehicles produced in 2022 were sold out and is now accepting orders for 2023.
