Magpie Aviation, a California-based startup, has introduced a new approach to electric airplanes, announcing the concept on Monday. With current battery technology posing limitations on the practicality of zero-emission aircraft, the startup has proposed a solution that involves towing planes, extending their range by hundreds of miles. This towing approach is a new concept in green transportation, with military use of aerial tows going back to World War II. Magpie’s concept involves using one or more electric aircraft to tow a passenger or cargo aircraft using a long cable. While the towed plane would have enough battery power for takeoff, landing, and flying to alternate airports, it would not have enough to fly the full distance on its own.
