Horizon Aircraft Cavorite X5 Prototype (subscale prototype)

(Photo credit: Horizon Aircraft)

Cavorite X5 Prototype (subscale prototype)
Horizon Aircraft
Lindsay, Ontario, Canada
www.horizonaircraft.com

Horizon Aircraft based in Canada, was co-founded in 2013 by Brandon Robinson, CEO and Jason O’Neill, COO. Horizon Aircraft is in the business of designing and building long-range hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (VTOL) focusing on safety, practicality and operational flexibility. The company's aircraft are made for long-range advanced air mobility (AAM).

Cavorite X5 Prototype eVTOL subscale prototype aircraft
The Cavorite X5 Prototype is an uncrewed eVTOL 50% subscale prototype aircraft. The aircraft is remotely piloted and if necessary, can hold up to 100 lb (45 kg) with simulated cargo or test equipment. The subscale prototype looks very similar to the company's planned production model.

The cruise speed of the 1/2-scale prototype is 100 mph (161 km/h). The empty weight of the aircraft is 400 lb (181 kg), has a maximum payload weight of 100 lb (45 kg) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 500 lb (227 kg). The aircraft has 17 propellers, 17 electric motors and is powered by batteries. There are four fan-in-wing VTOL propellers in the font sweptback low wing, there are 16 VTOL propellers in the forward-swept rear high wing and has one pusher propeller. After VTOL flight is achieved and forward flight begins, louvers close over the fan-in-wing propellers to provide efficient lift during forward flight. When landing vertically (or when taking off), the louvers open on the wings allowing the VTOL propellers to land the aircraft safely (or to take off).

The aircraft has a canopy over the cockpit and has tandem wings. The length of the subscale prototype is 15 ft (4.57 m) and the rear forward-swept high wing is 22 ft (6.7 m) wide. The aircraft has a U tail with two vertical stabilizers. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The prototype has fixed tricycle twin-wheeled shock absorbing landing gear.

One of the important tests for the aircraft is the full-wing transition from VTOL flight to forward flight. The company has successfully made this test flight on May 15, 2025. The company stated their subscale prototype is the first aircraft in the world to achieve a stable transition using a novel fan-in-wing design.

Prototype and Technology Demonstrator Definitions
The difference between prototype and technology demonstrator is that a prototype is a subscale or full-scale aircraft and is usually similar to the planned production model but does not necessarily have to look like the production model. It is built to test all of the aircraft components (electrical, materials and more), evaluate the design and evaluate the aerodynamics of the aircraft. At this point, the company is working on which suppliers to use and how to set up a manufacturing plant to begin serial production of the aircraft.

A technology demonstrator is typically a subscale aircraft that does not have to look anything like the production model or it can be a rough example of the production model. The primary purpose of a technology demonstrator is to flight test the aircraft, collect flight test data, check on the feasibility of the design and components, and check the performance of the aircraft. Sometimes inventors and companies use the term prototype or technology demonstrator as synonymous terms but in reality, they are technically not equal terms.

The company uses multiple the terms or phrases for their subscale prototype aircraft. The design of the prototype aircraft is very similar to what the production model and is half as small as the planned production aircraft. Therefore, the use of the phrase "a subscale prototype", "50% subscale prototype", "50% prototype" or "1/2 scale prototype" are correct phrases. Any other phrase or term is most likely not describing the aircraft accurately.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Subscale eVTOL prototype aircraft
• Piloting: Remote
• Capacity: No passengers but can carry 100 lbs of payload weight
• Cruise speed: 100 mph (161 km/h)
• Empty weight: 400 lb (181 kg)
• Maximum payload weight: 100 lb (45 kg)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 500 lb (227 kg)
• Propellers: 17 propellers (1 pusher propeller, 16 VTOL-only propellers. 4 VTOL-only propellers in the front wing and 12 VTOL-only propellers in the rear wing.)
• Electric motors: 17 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Canopy over the cockpit area
• Wings: Tandem wings (The front wing is a sweptback low wing. The rear wing is a forward-swept high wing with winglets.)
• Rear wing span: 22 ft (6.7 m)
• Length: 15 ft (4.57 m)
• Tail: U tail with 2 vertical stabilizers
• Landing gear: Fixed tricycle twin-wheeled shock absorbing landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) uses multiple propellers or electric ducted fans, each powered by electric motors, to increase safety through redundancy. If one or more components fail, the remaining ones can still ensure a safe landing. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure.

Related Aircraft:

• Horizon Aircraft Cavorite X5 (concept  design) 
• Horizon Aircraft Cavorite X7 (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• Pitchbook

Resources:

• Horizon Aircraft website
• Horizon Aircraft Facebook
• Horizon Aircraft Twitter
• Horizon Aircraft YouTube Channel
• Horizon Aircraft Instagram
• Horizon Aircraft LinkedIn
• Article: Horizon Aircraft finishes 50%-scale prototype eVTOL aircraft, Aerospace Manufacturing and Design, Aug. 3, 2022
• Video: Vertical Flight Test - Cavorite X5 50% Prototype, Horizon Aircraft, Jan. 17, 2023
• Video: Pre-Transition Test Flight - Cavorite Prototype, Horizon Aircraft, May 7, 2024
• Video: Road to Transition - Cavorite Prototype, Horizon Prototype, Nov. 14, 2024
• Video: Historic eVTOL Transition Flight - Founders React, Horizon Aircraft, May 15, 2025
• Article: Horizon Aircraft reaches milestone with X7 eVTOL transitioning to forward flight, AeroTime, May 16, 2025
• Article: Horizon Boosted by Transition Flight with Cavorite VTOL Demonstrator, Aviation International News Online, June 9, 2025
• Article: Horizon Cavorite takes off, AOPA, June 11, 2025