Hybrid Power Onboard: DAIR helps Horizon Aircraft transform the way we fly 

 The DAIR Green Fund has proven to be a vital resource to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in accelerating innovation forward within southern Ontario’s aerospace sector. The Green Fund supports SMEs in achieving a higher technology readiness level (TRL) with eventual commercialization and fostering partnerships with industry leaders and/or academia. Downsview Aerospace Innovation & Research (DAIR), which operates from Downsview Park in Toronto, Ontario, is a not-for-profit consortium, which energizes the innovation ecosystem by bringing together start-ups and high-potential businesses with leading aerospace companies and post-secondary institutions. 

The need and interest for such an initiative has been recognized by SMEs who applied in masses to this selective program, which is supported by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). 

Horizon Aircraft is on a journey to revolutionize how people and goods can be moved worldwide with groundbreaking hybrid power onboard a transformational aircraft. In collaboration with DAIR and the support of the DAIR Green Fund, Horizon Aircraft’s CEO, Brandon Robinson, is leading the charge of a new and exciting sector within aerospace which will transform the future of flight. 

Robinson began the journey with the DAIR team in 2022, starting a project to develop an advanced hybrid electric power system for Horizon’s prototype aircraft. The vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft has the controls of a helicopter with the efficiency to fly at the speed of a traditional aircraft. 

Horizon’s innovative hybrid power system onboard the proprietary VTOL will introduce more efficiency enroute and extend flight duration beyond conventional aircraft that stop to refuel. The VTOL aims to offer the flexibility to recharge itself during flight or on the ground after completing its tasks. The result is a significant reduction in emissions, leading the way for new access to flights and locations with a more sustainable approach to transportation. 

Horizon Aircraft’s unique hybrid electric VTOL concept, built upon patented ducted fan-in-wing technology, sets it apart from its competitors. This cutting-edge technology allows the aircraft to fly faster and farther and carry heavier payloads with agile controls for vertical take-off and landing, revolutionizing air mobility. With a design that enables the aircraft to operate like a standard aircraft for 98% of its mission, Horizon’s VTOL represents the pinnacle of safety, sustainability, durability, and operational versatility. 

The support from the DAIR Green Fund reaffirms the immense potential of Horizon Aircraft’s innovative technologies, which will be showcased in their newly announced seven-seater “Cavorite X7.”. As the global urban air mobility market is projected to exceed $30 billion by 2031, Horizon is poised to lead the industry with its visionary approach and expertise whilst growing a greener economy that nurtures green jobs for the future. With a team that boasts almost a century of experience building aircraft and over 25,000 hours of flying time, Horizon Aircraft is at the forefront of aviation and aerospace innovation. 

Horizon’s electric motor and battery technology advancements are essential to realizing this vision. In the past, the limitations of battery technology hindered practical designs in both the automotive and aerospace sectors. Recent advances in lithium-ion and lithium-sulfur battery commercialization have dramatically improved power densities, making them viable for aircraft design applications, particularly when coupled with a hybrid power system. Horizon Aircraft stands uniquely positioned to harness the benefits of these cutting-edge technologies. 

Developing the novel power architecture comes with challenges. The Horizon team began their DAIR Green Fund project by identifying and evaluating architectural options for their advanced hybrid electric power system. The team has faced technical obstacles head-on, from managing electromagnetic interference to understanding heat dissipation and addressing electrical power distribution complexities. Their perseverance is driven by the possibilities of in-flight and on-ground charging, unlocking flight horizons across urban centres and to small and rural communities that have been inaccessible and remote in the past. 

Horizon Aircraft’s hybrid electric VTOL introduces unprecedented opportunities to connect people and products in hard-to-reach locations, such as northern, remote, rural, and isolated communities. The aircraft has the potential to save lives, whether cutting medical evacuation mission times in half compared to traditional helicopters, or efficiently delivering essential goods such as life-saving organs and critical cancer drugs. With new perceptions of regional travel and delivery, this hybrid-powered VTOL aircraft creates a cleaner and greener option for the economy. 

Horizon Aircraft is an innovation-led growth team who thrives on pushing boundaries to create an aircraft that makes a real difference in Canada and around the globe. As they fine-tune and integrate the core power system, the advancements made under this program could find broader applicability in the global Advanced Air Mobility market and other sectors. 

In January 2024, Horizon took its company public to the NASDAQ Stock Exchange. With the success of its Green Fund project and many others through the years, Horizon is proving to everyone the successes that can be achieved within the Ontario region by developing valuable partnerships and collaborations along the journey. 

Learn more about the DAIR Green fund, here.

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