Horizon Aircraft
Corporate brand
UnclaimedHorizon Aircraft is a Canadian aerospace company developing hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for regional air mobility.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Horizon Aircraft is a Canadian aerospace company headquartered in Lindsay, Ontario, focused on developing hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Its principal program is the Cavorite X7, a planned six-passenger aircraft with capacity for one pilot that combines battery-powered electric lift fans with a conventional turboprop propulsion system for forward flight. The company positions this architecture as an alternative to fully battery-electric eVTOL designs, particularly for regional air mobility applications where range, payload, infrastructure requirements, and compatibility with existing landing facilities are important. The company was founded in 2013 by Brian Robinson and Brandon Robinson. It initially investigated amphibious aircraft before shifting toward vertical-lift aviation after assessing available technologies and the emerging potential of electric propulsion. Horizon subsequently developed the Cavorite concept around a patented fan-in-wing configuration. In this arrangement, electric lift fans are integrated into the aircraft's wing and canard structures. Sliding wing surfaces open during vertical flight to expose the fans and close during forward flight, enabling the aircraft to operate more like a conventional fixed-wing airplane once airborne. Horizon first pursued a five-seat concept known as the Cavorite X5. Following encouraging flight-test results, the company announced in September 2023 that its planned full-scale aircraft would be enlarged into the seven-seat Cavorite X7 configuration, comprising six passenger seats and a pilot position. The planned design uses ten battery-powered vertical lift fans, with five in each main wing and one in each of two forward canards, while a gas-powered propeller is intended to provide thrust during cruise. Horizon has described a target speed of approximately 280 miles per hour and a range of about 500 miles, although these are development targets rather than demonstrated operational specifications. The company argues that its hybrid architecture could provide substantially more range than an electric-only VTOL aircraft while reducing dependence on high-capacity charging networks. Horizon has also stated that the aircraft's fan-in-wing layout could improve compatibility with existing heliport-related infrastructure, including hospital heliports, rooftop facilities, and shipboard landing areas. The practical deployment of the aircraft would nevertheless depend on regulatory certification, infrastructure standards, operational economics, and the successful completion of development and flight testing. Horizon was acquired by Astro Aerospace Ltd. in an all-stock transaction in June 2021. The parties later agreed to unwind the transaction, and Horizon was sold back to its original shareholders in August 2022. In 2024, Horizon merged with special-purpose acquisition company Pono Capital Three and became publicly traded on Nasdaq. The same year, it announced a letter of intent with Indian private-jet operator JetSetGo concerning the proposed sale of 50 Cavorite X7 aircraft. The transaction represented commercial interest in the aircraft but was described as a letter of intent rather than a completed delivery or firm order. In May 2025, Horizon announced that a large-scale prototype had successfully transitioned from vertical flight to wing-borne forward flight. The company presented the test as an important demonstration of its fan-in-wing concept. Full-scale development and certification work remained ongoing, and the Cavorite X7 had not yet entered regular commercial service in the supplied reference material. As of June 2026, the company was reported to have approximately 52 employees.
History
Horizon Aircraft was established in 2013 by Brian Robinson and Brandon Robinson. The founders initially explored the development of an amphibious aircraft, but their technical investigations led them toward electric vertical-lift aviation and hybrid propulsion. The company subsequently developed an aircraft concept intended to combine the low-speed and vertical-flight capabilities of an eVTOL with the efficiency and range characteristics of a fixed-wing aircraft. Horizon created the Cavorite family around a fan-in-wing design. Electric lift fans are placed inside the aircraft's wings and forward canards rather than being permanently exposed on external arms or nacelles. During takeoff and landing, sliding wing surfaces open to allow the fans to generate vertical lift. During cruise, the surfaces close and the aircraft is intended to use a conventional propeller-driven propulsion system for forward flight. This configuration is central to Horizon's argument that the aircraft could offer longer range than battery-only VTOL aircraft while potentially making use of landing sites that are closer in scale and layout to existing heliport facilities. The company's early development work centered on the five-seat Cavorite X5. In September 2023, Horizon announced that the planned full-scale aircraft would be enlarged and developed as the Cavorite X7 after positive results from flight testing. The X7 was described as a six-passenger aircraft with one pilot. Its proposed propulsion arrangement consists of ten battery-powered vertical lift fans—five in each of the two main wings and one in each of two nose canards—combined with a gas-powered propeller for forward flight. Horizon has stated development targets of roughly 280 miles per hour and approximately 500 miles of range. These figures describe intended performance and are not evidence that the aircraft has entered certified commercial operation. Corporate ownership changed during the development period. In June 2021, Astro Aerospace Ltd. acquired Horizon in an all-stock transaction. In August 2022, Astro and Horizon agreed to unwind that transaction, and Horizon was sold back to its original shareholders. In 2024, Horizon merged with Pono Capital Three, a special-purpose acquisition company, in a transaction that resulted in the company becoming publicly traded on Nasdaq. The public-company phase included a proposed commercial relationship with JetSetGo, an Indian private-jet operator. Horizon announced a 2024 letter of intent for the proposed sale of 50 Cavorite X7 aircraft. The announcement indicated prospective customer interest, but a letter of intent should not be treated as equivalent to completed aircraft deliveries or an unconditional firm order. A significant technical milestone was announced in May 2025, when Horizon reported that a large-scale prototype had transitioned from vertical flight to wing-borne forward flight. The company characterized the event as a demonstration of its fan-in-wing technology. Further development, certification, and production work remained necessary before commercial service. Industry-wide deployment also depends on aviation certification, vertiport and heliport standards, electrical infrastructure, maintenance arrangements, and the economics of regional air mobility. As of June 2026, the supplied reference material reported approximately 52 employees.
- 2025
Prototype transition flight
[1]A large-scale prototype completed a transition from vertical flight to wing-borne forward flight.
- 2024
Public listing through Pono Capital Three merger
[1]Horizon merged with SPAC Pono Capital Three and became publicly traded on Nasdaq.
- 2024
JetSetGo letter of intent
[1]Horizon announced a letter of intent covering the proposed sale of 50 Cavorite X7 aircraft to Indian operator JetSetGo.
- 2023
Cavorite X7 announced
[1]The planned full-scale aircraft was expanded from the Cavorite X5 concept into the seven-seat Cavorite X7.
- 2022
Acquisition unwound
[1]Horizon and Astro agreed to unwind the acquisition, returning Horizon to its original shareholders.
- 2021
Acquisition by Astro Aerospace
[1]Astro Aerospace acquired Horizon in an all-stock transaction.
- 2013
Company founded
[1]Brian Robinson and Brandon Robinson founded Horizon Aircraft, initially pursuing an amphibious aircraft before moving toward hybrid-electric VTOL development.
Products and positioning
Horizon Aircraft positions itself as a developer of longer-range hybrid-electric eVTOL aircraft that combine electric vertical lift with conventional forward-flight propulsion. Its differentiation is centered on the patented fan-in-wing configuration, intended to conceal lift fans during cruise, reduce dependence on dedicated charging infrastructure, and potentially support operations from existing heliport and specialized landing facilities.
Hybrid-electric eVTOL aircraft concept
Cavorite X5
The Cavorite X5 was Horizon Aircraft's earlier five-seat aircraft concept. It formed the basis for the company's subsequent full-scale development program before the design was enlarged into the Cavorite X7. The aircraft family uses Horizon's fan-in-wing approach, with electric lift fans integrated into the airframe and conventional propulsion intended for forward flight.
Hybrid-electric eVTOL aircraft · 2023
Cavorite X7
The Cavorite X7 is Horizon Aircraft's principal aircraft program. It is planned as a six-passenger aircraft with one pilot, using ten battery-powered vertical lift fans integrated into the wings and nose canards and a gas-powered propeller for forward flight. Horizon has described target performance of approximately 280 miles per hour and a 500-mile range. The design remains under development and requires certification before commercial service.
Brand decisions
2024
Merger with Pono Capital ThreeM&ABackground
Horizon pursued access to public capital markets through a special-purpose acquisition company.
Action taken
Horizon merged with Pono Capital Three and became publicly traded on Nasdaq.
Aftermath
The transaction moved Horizon into the public-company phase while its principal aircraft remained in development.
2024
JetSetGo commercial letter of intentOtherBackground
Horizon sought early customer commitments for the Cavorite X7 in the regional and private aviation market.
Action taken
The company signed a letter of intent with Indian private-jet operator JetSetGo for the proposed sale of 50 aircraft.
Aftermath
The announcement indicated prospective demand, but the supplied material does not establish that the aircraft were delivered or that the proposed sale became a completed firm order.
2023
Expansion from Cavorite X5 to Cavorite X7Generation changeBackground
Horizon reported positive results from flight testing of its earlier Cavorite concept.
Action taken
The planned full-scale aircraft was enlarged from a five-seat X5 configuration to a seven-seat X7 configuration, consisting of six passenger seats and one pilot position.
Aftermath
The X7 became the company's main development and prospective commercial aircraft program.
2022
Unwinding of Astro Aerospace transactionM&ABackground
Horizon and Astro agreed to reverse the prior all-stock acquisition.
Action taken
Horizon was sold back to its original shareholders.
Aftermath
Horizon continued its aircraft development independently before pursuing a later public-market transaction.
2021
All-stock acquisition by Astro AerospaceM&ABackground
Astro Aerospace sought to bring Horizon into its corporate structure during the emerging eVTOL market expansion.
Action taken
Astro Aerospace acquired Horizon Aircraft in an all-stock transaction.
Aftermath
The transaction was later unwound, and Horizon returned to its original shareholders in 2022.
2013
Shift from amphibious aircraft to hybrid-electric VTOLStrategyBackground
Horizon began by investigating amphibious aircraft, then reassessed available aviation and electric-propulsion technologies.
Action taken
The company redirected its development strategy toward a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft using electric lift augmented by conventional propulsion.
Aftermath
This decision established the technical direction that led to the Cavorite aircraft family and the fan-in-wing architecture.
Recent events
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