Preliminary Design Reviews Complete for Horizon Aircraft’s Cavorite X7 Hybrid eVTOL

Horizon Aircraft has completed the platform and system Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs) for its full-scale Cavorite X7 hybrid-electric VTOL demonstrator, marking an important step in the aircraft’s engineering development.

The Toronto-based company announced on November 10 that it is releasing Cavorite X7 designs for manufacturing while working through the remaining action items identified during the review process.

The milestone moves the Cavorite X7 toward detailed design and the preparation of its structures and systems for manufacturing and eventual assembly.

PDR with certification in mind

A Preliminary Design Review assesses whether an aircraft’s preliminary design is sufficiently mature to proceed into detailed design. It provides an opportunity to examine the proposed architecture, engineering approach and system-level requirements before the programme advances toward more detailed engineering and manufacturing activities.

For Horizon Aircraft, the reviews covered both the overall Cavorite X7 platform and its individual systems. According to the company, a panel of aerospace specialists concluded that its design approach was sufficiently mature to advance to detailed design, subject to the closure of the remaining action items.

Horizon Aircraft says it deliberately approached the process with the aircraft’s eventual certification in mind, rather than focusing exclusively on achieving the first flight of its demonstrator.

“We approached PDR with certification in mind, not just first flight of our demonstrator aircraft. This approach required more detailed engineering, and it generated action items we’re now working through. That extra effort is an investment in a shorter, smoother path to certification, and I am extremely proud of what our team has accomplished.” – Tom Brassington, Chief Technology Officer of Horizon Aircraft

The distinction is important. Completing the PDRs does not mean that the Cavorite X7’s design is fully finalized or that the aircraft is ready for certification. Rather, it indicates that the preliminary engineering work has reached a stage at which the programme can progress into more detailed design, while remaining issues are addressed.

Critical Design Review ahead of final assembly

Horizon Aircraft’s next major formal design milestone will be the Critical Design Review (CDR), which the company expects to conduct before final assembly begins.

Where PDR establishes whether the preliminary design is sufficiently mature to proceed, CDR evaluates whether the detailed design is sufficiently complete to support the next stages of the programme. It is an important checkpoint before committing to final assembly of the full-scale demonstrator.

The company’s decision to incorporate certification considerations into its preliminary design process is particularly relevant as it develops the Cavorite X7 beyond a technology demonstrator. Engineering decisions made during early development can have implications for subsequent testing, documentation and the eventual certification process.

However, the extent to which this approach will streamline certification remains to be demonstrated as the aircraft progresses through detailed design, testing and the applicable regulatory requirements.

The industrial partners behind the Cavorite X7 demonstrator

Moving from preliminary engineering toward a full-scale aircraft demonstrator requires more than completing design reviews. It also involves translating the aircraft’s engineering architecture into physical structures, propulsion equipment and integrated systems.

Horizon Aircraft has identified several specialist aerospace companies contributing to the Cavorite X7 programme. Their roles span composite structures, flight-control technology, propulsion and power electronics, bringing together capabilities required to develop and assemble the full-scale demonstrator.

Among these partners is RAMPF Composite Solutions, which is responsible for manufacturing the Cavorite X7’s main fuselage and empennage structures. North Aircraft Industries will manufacture and structurally test the aircraft’s composite wing.

The programme also involves BETA Technologies, which has been selected to provide flight-control computers and customized fly-by-wire software. Pratt & Whitney Canada is supplying the PT6A engine for the Cavorite X7’s hybrid-electric propulsion architecture, while Motion Applied is working on the aircraft’s motor-drive inverter.

Together, these companies represent an industrial ecosystem supporting the development and integration of the Cavorite X7 demonstrator. Their contributions cover several of the aircraft’s major physical structures and systems, which will need to be brought together as the programme progresses toward final assembly and testing.

It is important, however, to distinguish this demonstrator programme from the eventual production model. Horizon’s eventual production arrangements will need to support the manufacture of customer aircraft at a different scale and under the requirements of a certified production programme.

Research & Technology Committee Chair

Horizon Aircraft is also engaged in advanced technology development across the wider aerospace ecosystem. CEO and Co-founder Brandon Robinson serves as Chair of the Research & Technology Committee at the Ontario Aerospace Council, supporting collaboration between industry, academia and government to advance aerospace research and technology development.

This broader engagement reflects the importance of collaboration across the aerospace sector, particularly as companies developing new aircraft architectures bring together specialist expertise in engineering, materials, propulsion and systems integration. For programmes such as the Cavorite X7, these relationships can help connect emerging technologies with the industrial capabilities needed to move from development toward certification and eventual production.

RAMPF Composite Solutions:

A notable element of Horizon Aircraft’s supply chain development is its collaboration with RAMPF Composite Solutions (a subsidiary of RAMPF Group), which has been selected to manufacture the fuselage for the Cavorite X7 hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft. The partnership underscores the increasing reliance on established aerospace composite specialists as Advanced Air Mobility programs transition from prototype development toward scalable, certification-ready production. The company is led by CEO Larry Fitzgerald, reflecting its focus on advanced composite manufacturing and industrial-scale aerospace production capabilities. RAMPF also operates within a broader aerospace ecosystem that includes engagement with industry bodies such as the Ontario Aerospace Council, where Fitzgerald serves as Chair of the Scholarship Committee, highlighting the interconnected nature of supply chains, workforce development, and regional aerospace collaboration. Together, these factors reinforce how Horizon’s approach aligns with a broader shift where supply-chain maturity and manufacturing readiness are becoming as central to program success as airframe innovation itself.

“RAMPF’s industry-leading aerospace composite capabilities make this a critical partnership for us. Seeing fuselage manufacturing underway is incredibly meaningful, and having it built locally in Ontario, Canada is something we are proud of. RAMPF’s highly experienced team understands the significance of what Horizon Aircraft is working to achieve, and we look forward to bringing the Cavorite X7 to life together.” – Brandon Robinson, Co-Founder and CEO of Horizon Aircraft (29th of January, 2026)

“We are very excited to work with Horizon Aircraft on their revolutionary new aircraft, the Cavorite X7. This is the kind of project that professionals across the composites industry truly aspire to work on. It will show how lightweight, high‑performance composites continue to push the boundaries of engineering and design. It is an honour for RAMPF to collaborate with Horizon on such a game-changing aircraft.” – Larry Fitzgerald, CEO of RAMPF Composite Solutions (29th of January, 2026)

“RAMPF helps aerospace and defense manufacturers reduce costs, mitigate risk, and accelerate product development. With faster time-to-market, lower total production costs, and high-performance, fully compliant composite components, RAMPF delivers a clear competitive advantage – all from a single, trusted partner.” – Larry Fitzgerald, CEO RAMPF Composite Solutions (29th of June, 2026)

Horizon Aircraft | Building on Canada’s Aerospace Legacy (video below)

Horizon and MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ)

Horizon Aircraft’s partnership with MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ), a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, brings together Horizon’s innovative hybrid-electric Cavorite X7 programme with MHIRJ’s extensive aircraft engineering and certification expertise. Under the agreement, MHIRJ is providing engineering services to support the development of the Cavorite X7, including the design and integration of flight test instrumentation, as well as additional technical support throughout the aircraft’s development programme. By leveraging MHIRJ’s decades of experience in regional aircraft design, testing and certification, Horizon aims to accelerate development, reduce technical risk and strengthen its path toward certification and commercialisation, while demonstrating the value of strategic collaboration in advancing regional air mobility.

“We’re excited to team up with Horizon Aircraft on their innovative Cavorite X7 project. With our expertise in engineering and regional aviation, we believe we can make a significant impact as they lead the way in hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft. This collaboration not only opens doors for business growth, but lets us use our engineering strengths to push this cutting-edge initiative forward. We’re committed to contributing to the value chain and supporting sustainable technology in regional aviation.” – Elio Ruggi, Senior Vice-President, Chief Engineer – Head of Aircraft Development, Quality & Flight Ops, MHIRJ

“MHIRJ represents an elite engineering group within the global aerospace community with a proven track record in regional aircraft development. This partnership strengthens the Cavorite X7 program and helps significantly reduce the technical risk associated with advancing our aircraft toward flight testing and eventual certification.” – Brandon Robinson, Horizon Aircraft Co-Founder and CEO

“Our aerospace industry is on the cusp of an exciting step-change where the traditional design features of the last 100 years of aviation, will pivot towards new and maturing technologies. This new era requires the fearless courage of teams that will push across known boundaries, but also the strength and steady hand of experts who have proven methods and results in the fundamentals required to win.

MHIRJ Aerospace Engineering Center offers a unique full life-cycle engineering capability which can be applied and extended to other emerging technologies. We have a mature team that can come online rapidly and cost-efficiently. Today we support a fleet of 1300 CRJ Series aircraft that have accumulated over 35 million hours of in-service flight hours. This gives us a unique depth of expertise and maturity in the full product life cycle in the commercial space.”

Elio Ruggi, Senior Vice-President, Chief Engineer- Head of Aircraft Development, Quality & Flight Ops, MHI RJ

Inside Horizon Aircraft’s Canadian development programme

Horizon Aircraft | Building Hybrid-Electric VTOL Aircraft in Canada (video below)

From demonstrator development to aircraft production

With the Cavorite X7’s PDRs complete, Horizon Aircraft is moving toward the next stage of development: releasing designs for manufacturing while addressing the remaining PDR action items. The programme will now progress toward the Critical Design Review, with specialist partners contributing to the integration of the aircraft’s major structures and systems ahead of final assembly.

The longer-term objective extends beyond building the demonstrator. Horizon Aircraft has stated that, following successful testing and certification of its full-scale aircraft, it intends to scale unit production to serve regional aircraft operators, emergency service providers and military customers. Establishing the manufacturing processes, supplier arrangements and production capabilities needed to support that objective will be a separate challenge from completing the demonstrator.

For now, the focus is on translating the Cavorite X7’s design into a physical aircraft. The coming stages should provide a clearer picture of how Horizon Aircraft’s engineering approach and industrial partnerships contribute to that effort.

Stay tuned to eVTOL buzz for more in-depth analysis that goes beyond the press release.

More Info:

Horizon Aircraft (Official website): click here

Horizon Aircraft Completes Preliminary Design Review of Cavorite X7 Hybrid eVTOL: click here