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eVTOL Horizon

Horizon Aircraft’s Cavorite X7 Taking Shape for Success with $17M in Cash and New Additions to “Can-Do Crew” 🇨🇦

ByeVTOL buzz Team

Aug 25, 2025 #electric, #eVTOL, #Horizon, #Horizon Aircraft, #Hybrid, #Lilium, #VTOL

In order to stay true to the founders’ mission of bringing to market an eco-friendly hybrid-electric Cavorite X7 eVTOL without compromising on safety and performance (speed, range, and payload), Horizon Aircraft (NASDAQ: HOVR) has obtained $17M in cash and recruited top experts in the field as new talent. This will allow Horizon Aircraft to keep up the momentum after their historic forward transition flight of a large scale prototype of the Cavorite X7 aircraft in May.

“This was a pivotal year across all facets of our business – design, technical testing, personnel hires, and funding.”.. “Our achievements were highlighted in May 2025 by being one of the first eVTOL companies to successfully achieve forward transition flight of a large-scale prototype that uses fan-in-wing technology. This milestone lends tremendous credibility to the design of our Cavorite X7 aircraft that is expected to lead the industry in all major performance categories, including speed, range, and payload.” – Brandon Robinson, CEO of Horizon Aircraft

“With added resources from funding efforts in both fiscal 2025 and Q1 of fiscal 2026, we now have approximately $17 million of cash and sufficient capital to complete our full-scale demonstrator aircraft over the next 18 months.” – Brian Merker, CFO of Horizon Aircraft

New Talent Unlocked to Join Horizon’s “Can-Do Crew” 🇨🇦

Four highly experienced gentlemen (true experts in their own fields) who formerly worked with Lilium, have recently joined Horizon Aircraft, and are busy working with the rest of Horizon’s brilliant team on making the Cavorite X7 the engineering and design marvel it was destined to be. With $17M in cash and other capital, Horizon has an 18 month R&D budget for this soon to be legendary “Can-Do Crew” 🇨🇦 to keep making aviation history in the present. It won’t be long before we see the first full-scale Cavorite X7 flying and transitioning from vertical and horizontal/wingborne flight.

Below, we will introduce these new members of Horizon’s team:

Technology Driven Success

Tom Brassington

Chief Technology Officer at Horizon Aircraft

  • Former Head of System Design Engineering, and Head of Design Services at Lilium

The first of the four to join Horizon Aircraft (joining in November 2024), Tom Brassington brings a wealth of knowledge in both technology, and system designing/engineering. Another important aspect is that Tom Brassington knows how to deal with hurdles relating to aircraft development and certification. While it is known that Canada‘s governing body, Transport Canada has less bureaucratic hurdles than the FAA in the United States and EASA in Europe (the current US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is seeking to improve that), it still makes the process much easier having Tom Brassington as a true expert in aircraft development and certification.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tom to our team of visionary and highly talented engineers. Tom’s experience is rare – he has seen firsthand the challenges associated with eVTOL aircraft development and certification – and we feel very fortunate that he has placed his confidence in Horizon Aircraft. His experience will be invaluable as we continue the design, production, and testing of our Cavorite X7 aircraft.” – Brandon Robinson, CEO of Horizon Aircraft

“The eVTOL sector is a very crowded marketplace. As it develops it is becoming clearer which companies are likely to succeed, and Horizon Aircraft is one of those few companies that maintains a strict operational focus, has a realistic concept that will work with current technology, and has built a highly experienced team that can deliver. This is an exciting period in the company’s growth, and I am very much looking forward to being part of this.” – Tom Brassington

Please see the video below from Horizon Aircraft about Tom Brassington:

Propelling Forward

John Wyzykowski

Technical Expert at Horizon Aircraft

  • Former Head of Propulsion at Lilium
  • Former Senior Director of Engine Development Programs at Pratt & Whitney Canada
  • Former Director of Turbofan Engines at Pratt & Whitney Canada
  • 40 years of expertise in aviation

John Wyzykowski was invited to the Horizon team by Tom Brassington, Brandon Robinson, Brian Robinson, Jason O’Neill, and Stewart Lee.

With Horizon Aircraft being a trailblazer in hybrid-electric propulsion for eVTOLs, and building an eVTOL that can fly at longer distances now, rather than waiting years for battery technology to provide the range that many owner/operators currently need their eVTOLs to fly (500 mile average range with fuel reserves), it’s crucial that the Cavorite X7’s hybrid electric propulsion system will be placed in the hands of experts who truly understand how to integrate a gas turbine powerplant that can live up to the Cavorite X7’s true potential.

Horizon Cavorite X7 ‘s max range of 800 km (497 miles) is more than 3 times as far as the Archer Midnight (161 km, 100 miles).

Horizon’s early stance on hybrid-electric powerplants has been further validated by all-electric shorter range competitors such as Joby and Archer, which recently started pursuing their own hybrid-electric systems for military contracts. Working in both traditional and all-electric propulsion systems, John Wyzykowski provides Horizon with his exceptional wisdom in developing power density, thermal management, and system redundancy improvements for the Cavorite X7.

Cavorite X7 landing on aircraft carrier
Cavorite X7 military refueling

In a statement on LinkedIn, John Wyzykowski commented on the reliability and planet saving characteristics of the Cavorite X7’s hybrid-electric aircraft featuring a gas turbine powered turboprop propulsion system:

“After 40 years in aviation and counting, I am thrilled to join Horizon Aircraft in a consulting engagement (WYZ-Works Consulting Solutions) to support propulsion system development for their innovative hybrid electric aircraft, the Cavorite X7. This concept, which is being proven through flight and rig tests of its half scale X5 prototype, combines wing and canard mounted ducted electric fans for lift with a conventional aft mounted turboprop gas turbine engine for cruise flight and power generation. This offers an ingenious combination of the eco-friendliness of green propulsion with the proven reliability of a turbine in a novel hybrid package.” – John Wyzykowski

“John’s expertise in propulsion systems is second to none. His experience in both traditional and next-generation aerospace powerplants will help us push the boundaries of hybrid-electric flight. As we advance towards commercialization, his contributions will be invaluable in ensuring that the Cavorite X7 delivers the best possible combination of efficiency, performance, and reliability.” – Tom Brassington CTO of Horizon Aircraft

Mr. Wyzykowski highlighted the ingenious hybrid-electric system of the Cavorite X7, which has specifically been designed for the perfect balance between performance and multi-role mission capability:

“The Cavorite X7 is one of the most exciting eVTOL platforms in development today, offering a truly innovative hybrid-electric propulsion system that balances power, range, and operational flexibility. I look forward to contributing my expertise to help bring this groundbreaking Canadian aircraft to market.” – John Wyzykowski 

Electrically Amped Up⚡

Justin Chapman

Senior Technical Advisor at Horizon Aircraft

  • Former Head of Powertrain & Advanced Systems and Head of Electronic & Electrical Engineering at Lilium
  • Former Chief of Electronics and Chief of FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) at Rolls-Royce
  • Chief Power Conversion & Test Engineer at Keep Energy Systems (formerly known as Cheesecake Energy)

Having worked at Lilium as the Head of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, and as Chief of Electronics & FADEC, Justin Chapman is amped up⚡with excitement about joining the groundbreaking Cavorite X7 project at Horizon Aircraft:

“I’m thrilled to be supporting Horizon Aircraft in their revolutionary Cavorite X7 project.” …..“My initial activities on the project have shown me a company of highly dedicated and talented people who are all striving to deliver an innovative product into a very challenging arena. I will use all my experience from aerospace and beyond to help develop the full-scale demonstrator. I’m excited to be a small part of Horizon’s ‘Real World Ready’ hybrid eVTOL.” – Justin Chapman, Senior Technical Advisor at Horizon Aircraft

Justin Chapman also has experience being the Chief Power Conversion & Test Engineer for Keep Energy Systems (formerly Cheesecake Energy), an eco-friendly company which makes an adiabatic compressed air energy storage (CAES) system to store electrical power during peak energy production or low demand, and release it during peak electrical demand. Don’t be surprised if you will eventually see this technology at a local vertiport near you when taking off and landing from a hybrid-electric Cavorite X7.

Having a wide array of technical expertise in electrical engineering, electronics, and power conversion, Justin Chapman has much to offer Horizon Aircraft in testing experience and technical knowledge to make sure the Cavorite X7 becomes the ultimate hybrid-electric eVTOL.

“I am delighted to work with Justin again. He brings a rare combination of world-class electronics, propulsion, and control systems knowledge to Horizon. His efforts will advance and de-risk our Cavorite X7 development programs, helping us achieve our goal to produce a safe and reliable piloted full-size demonstrator.” – Tom Brassington, Chief Technology Officer at Horizon Aircraft

Design Taking Shape

Horizon’s Cavorite X7 was already a gorgeous design. If Horizon Aircraft wanted to make the Cavorite X7 look more sleek and refined, this would be no easy task (to say the least). Nevertheless in their stubborn pursuit of perfection, Horizon got award-winning designer Andrea Mocellin on board for such a purpose. Not a stranger to aircraft design, Andrea Mocellin was on the design team for Lilium’s eVTOL as Lead Project Designer. Besides Lilium, Andrea Mocellin has worked with Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Pininforina, Nike, and GranStudio (companies that value aesthetically pleasing designs).

Andrea Mocellin

Award-Winning Innovator, Automotive and Aviation designer

  • Former Lead Project Designer at Lilium
  • Designed for Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Pininforina, Nike, and GranStudio

“As we push forward with the next phase of the Cavorite X7’s development, partnering with Andrea allows us to elevate the aircraft’s design and reinforce our commitment to world-class innovation in eVTOL technology,” – Brandon Robinson, CEO and Co-founder at Horizon Aircraft.

“It is a unique opportunity to collaborate with Horizon Aircraft on this groundbreaking project.” ….“Bringing together my experience in transportation design and mobility innovation, our goal is to create an aircraft that is both performance-driven and instantly recognizable, setting a new benchmark in the industry.” –  Andrea Mocellin

Cavorite X7 exterior concept designed by Andrea Mocellin:

Over the past few months, we’ve been at work aligning design language with high-performance engineering, creating a synergy that reflects both technological excellence and expressive aesthetics. Today, I’m excited to share a first look at some of the visuals developed so far!” –  Andrea Mocellin

This “synergy” that Andrea Mocellin describes, is going to be the most interesting part of his work. Horizon Aircraft, from their Co-Founders: CEO Brandon Robinson and Chief Engineer Brian Robinson, to the rest of their R&D team, are known for their uncompromising requirements regarding safety and performance. Their deep resolve and core values will ensure the Cavorite X7 is rugged, reliable and practical. If anyone can harmonize making a superb aesthetically pleasing design, yet staying practical and true to the core values of Horizon, it’s Andrea Mocellin.

Interestingly, Andrea Mocellin is also the founder Revolve Mobility, in which he invented the Revolve Air ultra compact wheelchair that can be stowed in the overhead bin of a commercial airliner. Such a wheelchair would also be very useful for those with special mobility needs requiring a wheelchair, traveling on a Horizon Cavorite X7. It’s further proof of a good fit, since Horizon Aircraft and Andrea Mocellin both share a common commitment to removing barriers to mobility through thoughtful design.

Distance Not a Barrier

Unlike with most competitors, distance is not a barrier for travel with a hybrid-electric Cavorite X7.

Communities that are 161 km (100 miles) or more out of range of a fully electric eVTOL will rely on the hybrid eVTOL Cavorite X7 to connect them not only to the typical urban areas, but also to other similar sized or remote communities without having to make a stop in a major regional hub.

Besides the obvious advantages that the Cavorite X7 holds for intercity travel such as within the “Texas Triangle” (Austin, Houston, Dallas- Fort Worth), commutes between Washington DC to NYC (342 km, 213 miles), or even flights from Washington DC to Montréal (783.8 km, 487 miles), there are numerous opportunities where the impact will be felt not only in North America, but throughout the world.

Medical Rescue Within Reach, and In Time

Regardless of how remote the location, and more importantly how far from a hospital, the Cavorite X7 makes an excellent air ambulance to arrive on the scene when seconds count and take the patient to the hospital in time. To accomplish this, the Cavorite X7 is equipped with a gas turbine powerplant that can generate the speed, and reliability a real air ambulance needs.

At 450 km/hr (280 mph) the Cavorite X7 can fly at almost twice the speed as the Archer Midnight (241 km/hr, 150 mph)

When seconds count in emergency medical situations, speed matters!

At 450 km/hr (280 mph), Horizon’s Cavorite X7 hybrid eVTOL aircraft will get the patient to the hospital quicker than it’s fully-electric competitors.

Conclusion:

With $17M in cash, a historic fan-in-wing transition flight, and top-tier talent from Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and beyond, Horizon is scaling up to deliver a full-scale demonstrator in just 18 months. Horizon Aircraft‘s “Can-Do Crew” 🇨🇦 has the right attitude for the Cavorite X7 to reach New Horizons and latitudes 🌎 around the globe. Tom Brassington, John Wyzykowski, Justin Chapman, and Andrea Mocellin each bring tremendous knowledge and experience to the table. It won’t be long before we see the first full-scale Cavorite X7 flying and transitioning from vertical and horizontal/wingborne flight. When that day comes, eVTOL buzz will ready to cover this groundbreaking milestone, and provide the deep dive analysis regarding everything surrounding that major accomplishment! ✈️

More Info:

Horizon Aircraft’s official press release: click here,

Horizon’s Annual Report (dated August 22, 2025): click here

Horizon Aircraft Appoints Tom Brassington as Chief Technology Officer: click here

Horizon Aircraft Bolsters Cavorite X7 Development with Top Propulsion Expert: click here

Horizon Aircraft Welcomes Former Rolls-Royce Propulsion Expert Justin Chapman as Senior Technical Advisor: click here

Horizon Aircraft Partners with Renowned Designer Andrea Mocellin to Shape the Future of Air Mobility: click here

Official website of Andrea Mocellin: click here

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By eVTOL buzz Team

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