Summary
- The Halcón 2 is Mexico’s first aircraft in 70 years, priced at MX $2.7 million.
- The Mexican company Horizontec goals to create an aviation industry within the country.
- The Halcón 2 was successfully flown on an experimental flight on February 24, 2024.
Mexico has now built its first aircraft in 70 years. The Mexican company Horizontec has successfully built a small light sport aircraft and hopes this might start a Mexican aviation industry.
Photo: Horizontec
Mexico is the predominant aviation market in Latin America. Nevertheless, it lacks a domestic aviation industry able to developing and constructing aircraft. Conversely, Brazil is home to Embraer (the third-largest airline company after Boeing and Airbus), and few other countries in Latin America produce aircraft.
Halcón 2: Mexico’s first aircraft
The Halcón 2 may seem like a small and humble aircraft, but for Mexico, it represents the primary 100% Mexican airplane in 70 years. Halcón 2 (or Falcon in English) is being built by the small Mexico-based aviation company Horizontec. The Halcon 2 can now be purchased for around MX$ 2.7 million or around $160,000.
Photo: Horizontec
The Halcón 2 is a two-seat, light sport aircraft manufactured from composite materials. It’s powered by a 141hp Rotax 915is engine. The Horizontec website says it’s “versatile, secure, and simple to pilot.”
Halcón 2 Specs |
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Type: |
Light sports aircraft |
Length: |
6.1 meters |
Wingspan: |
9.4 meters |
Use: |
Pilot training, aerial surveillance, recreational flights |
Engine: |
Rotax 915is engine |
Airworthy Certificate: |
in process |
The Halcón 2 is meant for flight schools and to coach Mexico’s future pilots. It could actually even be used for aerial surveillance and recreational flights. The aircraft’s website states that the Halcón 2 is currently being certified by the Mexican Federal Civil Aeronautics Agency. Horizontec can be pursuing United States certification to sell it internationally.
Photo: Horizontec
The corporate is targeted on designing, developing, and manufacturing aircraft in Mexico. It seeks to mix cutting-edge technologies with composite materials. The CEO has noted that it is not easy to construct aircraft out of composite materials, and few corporations use them. Composite materials make aircraft significantly lighter.
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Halcón 2’s experimental flight
A historic flight for Halcón 2 was held on the Atizapan Airport (officially the Jorge Jimenez Cantu National Airport). The aircraft took to the skies on February 24, 2024, in an experimental flight within the presence of Mexican authorities from the Ministries of National Defense and Navy, the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), and the previous Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon. Dozens of other guests also gathered to observe the aircraft take flight.
“That is an important achievement since a technological product was created in Mexico using tools of the long run, especially from simulation and with materials from the aerospace era.” Horizontec CEO Giovanni Angelucci Carrasco
The CEO of Horizontec, Giovanni Angelucci Carrasco, said the small aircraft was “A dream come true.” In keeping with Mexico Now, the aircraft is an element of Carrasco’s dream for Mexico to at some point join the aircraft manufacturing industry. Angelucci has stated:
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Mexico’s startup Horizontec
Horizontec was founded in 2014 by partners Giovanni Angelucci and Eduardo Carrasco, who shared a passion for flying. The startup’s first aircraft was the wood Halcon 1. The Halcon 1 has a maximum takeoff weight of 600 kilograms or 1,300 lbs and a 222 km/h or 138 mph speed. It first flew on September 30, 2017, demonstrating that the fledging company could construct aircraft. Steam Community somewhat eloquently said:
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Horizontec startup company: |
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Founded: |
2014 |
Aircraft: |
Halcon 1 & Halcon 2 |
Location: |
Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico |
Mexican leaders even have strong opinions on the manufacturer’s success. Throughout the inauguration of Horizontec’s recent plant a few years ago, the Governor of Guanajuato said:
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Designing and constructing an aircraft in a rustic lacking a developed aviation industry has been difficult for Horizontec. Initially, the corporate struggled to search out suppliers of quality materials and qualified professionals. But perhaps the regulatory environment of Mexico will adapt, and maybe it can be easier next time.
Mexico Business News reported in 2022 that Mexican regulations have gaps that make the certification process tougher. Lacking a domestic industry, the regulations force corporations to indicate an import certificate (something Horizontec cannot do since it uses local supplies). Getting the Halcon 1 certification was a tedious process.
Photo: Horizontec
Brazil is Latin America’s aviation heavyweight, where Embraer aircraft are built and exported worldwide (Embraer was once a startup, too). Time will tell if Mexico can develop its own robust industry, but for now, Mexico is celebrating its first aircraft in 70 years.
What are your thoughts on this young manufacturer? Tell us within the comments!