Have you ever wondered why, despite all the technological advances, we still have to choose between the versatility of a helicopter and the efficiency of an airplane? This question must have tormented even Brandon Robinson, a former U.S. Air Force F-18 pilot and current CEO of Horizon Aircraft. His answer is the Cavorite X7, which has just wrote a page of aviation history completing the first stable transition from vertical to horizontal flight using fans integrated into the wings. We are not talking about a model or a concept, but a “full-scale demonstrator” that could soon revolutionize regional air transport. The Cavorite X7 is designed for a specific goal: to be a conventional aircraft that, almost by magic, can take off and land vertically like a helicopter.
Cavorite X7, the magic is in the wings
The secret of the Cavorite X7 lies in its patented in-wing fan system. We are talking about 14 electric fans (five for each main wing and two in each forward canard) hidden inside the wing structures. Horizon Aircraft has developed a ingenious mechanism which allows the wing surfaces to open for vertical takeoff, using the thrust of battery-powered fans, and then close when the aircraft transitions to horizontal flight.
In this configuration, the Cavorite X7 operates like a normal airplane, using a turbine engine to drive the rear propeller. beauty of this approach is that the aircraft can recharge batteries during flight, ensuring that you always have enough energy for the vertical landing phase.
Performance not to be underestimated
The Cavorite X7 is not only ingenious in its concept, but also impressive in its performance. With a cruising speed of 463 km/h and a range of 800 km, this vehicle far outclasses the competition in the eVTOL sector. For comparison, the Joby S4, one of the leading electric air taxis in development, has a speed of 322 km/h and a range of only 241 km before having to recharge.
The load capacity is equally impressive: with a maximum take-off weight of 2.500 kg, the Cavorite X7 can carry up to 680 kg of cargo for vertical take-offs, rising to 815 kg for conventional runway take-offs. This makes it ideal for medical evacuation missions, delivery of critical supplies and regional transportation.
Cavorite X7, not just a technological toy
As he explained Brandon Robinson, the goal was to create “a normal airplane” by enhancing it with vertical takeoff capability, not to overturn the basic concept. “When you watch a helicopter take off, it doesn’t go straight up for 150 feet. It transitions quickly into forward motion,” Robinson explains.
This pragmatic philosophy is also reflected in the safety of the system: the demonstrator succeeded in hover with 30% of the fans offEach fan is electrically, thermally and mechanically isolated, so the failure of one does not compromise the entire aircraft.
The future is closer than we think
Certified to operate under both instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR), the Cavorite X7 will be capable of operating in all weather conditions, including icing. If certified, it will be the first in its class to achieve this qualification.
The aircraft is named after a fictional anti-gravity substance from H.G. Wells' 1901 novel "The First Men in the Moon." But unlike science fiction, this aircraft is becoming a reality, promising to transform regional air travel in a tangible and sustainable way, fitting into a booming sector like that of urban air mobility, which continues to see innovative developments in different directions.
