Horizon Aircraft has selected BETA Technologies to supply its advanced flight control computers and customized software for the Cavorite X7 full-scale hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The integration of BETA’s fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control hardware into the Cavorite X7 comes as Horizon Aircraft advances its aircraft development, testing, and certification activities. Designed specifically for modern vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, the FBW platform incorporates safety-critical software, system redundancy, and a flexible architecture intended to support reliable aircraft operations. Advanced flight control systems are among the most safety-critical components of modern VTOL aircraft and are central to aircraft handling, performance, and certification.
Kyle Clark, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BETA Technologies, said, “At BETA, our ambition has always been to build the key technologies that move the aviation industry forward. Horizon Aircraft has a strong team capable of designing and flying the X7, and they chose our flight control computers because we built them to meet the most rigorous standards in the industry. They’re compact, purpose-built for powered-lift, and designed with the certification discipline that DAL-A software and hardware development demands.”
BETA has designed its flight control computer (FCC) to support certification pathways for FAA Part 21.17(b) powered-lift, Part 23, and Part 25 applications, as well as future international regulatory frameworks including Transport Canada and EASA requirements. As a merchant supplier of safety-critical components such as motors, batteries, and flight controllers, BETA has the in-house capability to develop hardware and software up to Development Assurance Level A (DAL-A). This represents the highest level of rigor recognized by the FAA and international regulators for systems whose reliability is paramount.
Tom Brassington, Chief Technology Officer at Horizon Aircraft, added, “Flight controls are at the heart of our aircraft, so the process of selecting a flight controls partner was done methodically. We were attracted to BETA because of their sophisticated VTOL-specific FBW platform, a shared engineering philosophy, and the ability to support the rigorous long-term program requirements of aircraft certification.”
The compact FCC systems were developed in-house to provide the capability, speed, and reliability demands of modern powered-lift aircraft. Leveraging the latest electronics, the lightweight system delivers high-performance flight control capable of meeting the stringent environmental and lightning protection requirements for eVTOL operations in both FAA and international airspace.
Because Horizon Aircraft will use the same FCC hardware as BETA’s own fleet, both companies stand to benefit from shared economies of scale that reduce component costs and strengthen manufacturing efficiency. Additionally, the FBW architecture is designed with the capability for customers to seamlessly integrate mission controls for autonomous aircraft operations in the future. Alongside its electric motors and battery systems, BETA’s flight control computers represent a growing portfolio of components available to aircraft manufacturers across the advanced air mobility and aerospace sectors.
