Damon VanDer Lind and Andrew Goessling (X Makani) have a new venture
Magpie Aviation
They’re coordinating step towing battery electric aircraft as a range extending method
The tow line drogue steerer sounds a bit like a smart kite device
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I went from «meh» to pretty onboard after a few minutes on this one. It does sketch a path to zero emission aviation withouth any logical inconsistensies
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You never know what could happen, but to me, batteries are just too heavy for long distance flight, and this concept just makes it more complicated. My guess is this concept will be too expensive, and perhaps inefficient, to find wide use.
It depends on which current alternatives (CO2 emissions continued or bio fuels) remain as options and at what price. If those were to be banned, even for a few flights worldwide, Magpie could be the next best option. Maybe. Though I think just landing and taking the next aircraft for the next stretch is simpler and maybe also cheaper, and the time lost can be minimized with smart logistics. That is - get the passengers on their next aircraft, not let them walk into a transit area and keep them
there long enough to sell them a meal
and cheap alcohol (solving that last one is probably the hardest part).
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