Magpie's Sustainable Flight Concept Goes the Distance.
California-based startup Magpie Aviation is developing an aero tow system to provide a zero-emission solution to the challenge of providing enough range for electric and other aircraft without over-penalizing payload. The system involves tethering electric and other aircraft to an all-electric tow aircraft to extend their range by hundreds of miles. Magpie plans to scale up the aero tow system gradually to the point at which, by 2030, regional turboprop-size aircraft could be pulled in everyday commercial service by electric tow aircraft.