Magpie Aviation has announced that in March 2023, the company demonstrated the world’s first automated aerotowing connections between two aircraft in flight.
“This was a key milestone on our mission to enable long-range, zero-emission flight,” said the company in a YouTube video.
Magpie Aviation has developed an operational concept which will allow electric aircraft fly over long distances.
“Our autonomous technology enables an electric plane to be safely towed through the sky by a high-performance electric tow aircraft,” said the company in another YouTube video (see below). “For longer flights, the tow aircraft can be safely swapped out en route, enabling electric aircraft to cover ranges that used to be considered impossible. Excitingly, we have already conducted crewed flight tests that demonstrate the safety and reliability of the approach.”
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