In an innovative effort to reduce the rising costs of cargo transportation, Aerolane, a West Texas startup, has recovered and modernized a World War II- era concept: cargo gliders, now reimagined as autonomous cargo gliders.
This revolutionary technology promises to reduce air freight transportation costs by up to 65%, potentially transforming the $135 billion air freight industry.
The concept, inspired by historic gliders that transported soldiers and equipment, involves an airplane towing an unpowered cargo glider, dubbed an "aerocart", points out Interesting Engineering.
This method, tested and considered promising by the US Air Mobility Command in 2013, uses advanced flight control systems that allow gliders to navigate autonomously in the air, taking advantage of the aerodynamic vortex created by the lead plane for efficient, drag-free flight.
Aerolane's approach, by eliminating the need for engines and the weight of engines and fuel, significantly reduces costs.
The company has already developed and tested prototypes since 2022, demonstrating the feasibility of converting existing aircraft into automated towed cargo gliders. These tests include adaptations of the Pipistrel Virus and the Velocity SE canard pusher, although they currently feature engines due to regulatory requirements.
The brainchild of Todd Graetz, who previously managed a drone program for BNSF Railway Co., and Gur Kimchi, co-founder of Amazon's Prime Air drone delivery project and member of the Federal Aviation Administration's Drone Advisory Committee, Aerolane is not just a flight of fancy, but a tangible innovation rooted in extensive industry experience.
Aerolane's roadmap includes securing approval from regulatory authorities, such as the FAA, to build and operate unpowered gliders. The company plans to start with a glider capable of carrying three tons of cargo, eventually scaling up to a model with a capacity of 10 tons.
The innovations could even allow a glider to detach mid-flight and land independently of the lead plane, offering flexible delivery options.
With around 11.5 million dollars in initial funding, Aerolane is aiming for "initial availability" by 2025.
ZAP //
