Magpie Introduces The Concept Of Sustainable Long-Range Flight
On Monday, Magpie Aviation announced a new approach to electric aircraft. The California startup wants to tie the two together by extending the range of the rear aircraft by hundreds of miles.
Starting with a small demonstration of the concept, Magpie plans to gradually expand the aerodynamic towing system to the extent that by 2030, regional turboprop aircraft can be towed in everyday commercial operation using electric towing aircraft. In addition, the company expects advances in battery technology to expand the towing concept to the size of narrow-body airliners.
Magpie provides for an initial phase in which electric passenger and cargo aircraft automatically connect to an electric towing aircraft after takeoff and receive assistance in climbing to cruise altitude. At a later stage, the system will be expanded to allow the towing vehicle to pull the aircraft at high speed for up to 300 miles. for a charge. Ultimately, the startup envisions a network of electric towing aircraft that will be pre-positioned to provide multiple towing stages spanning over 1,000 miles of flight.
