Horizon Aircraft selects BETA Technologies advanced flight control computers and software for Cavorite X7

Horizon Aircraft has selected BETA Technologies to supply its advanced flight control computers on the Company’s full-scale hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft, the Cavorite X7. Through this partnership, Horizon Aircraft will integrate BETA’s fly-by-wire flight control hardware and customized software into the Cavorite X7 as the Company advances aircraft development, testing, and certification activities. BETA’s FBW platform was designed specifically for modern VTOL aircraft and incorporates safety-critical software, system redundancy, and a flexible architecture intended to support reliable aircraft operations. BETA has designed its flight control computer 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.

Kyle Clark, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BETA Technologies commented: “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.”

Tom Brassington, Chief Technology Officer, Horizon Aircraft stated: “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.”

Advanced flight control systems are among the most safety-critical components of modern VTOL aircraft and are central to aircraft handling, performance, and certification.

BETA's FCCs were developed in-house to provide the capability, speed and reliability demands of modern powered-lift aircraft. Leveraging the latest electronics, the compact system delivers high-performance flight control in a lightweight form factor 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 benefit from shared economies of scale that reduce component costs and strengthen manufacturing efficiency.

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), the highest level of rigor recognized by the FAA and international regulators for systems whose reliability is paramount. The FBW architecture is also 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.