Electric aircraft can do more.

Magpie Aerotowing is the first solution that enables zero-emission electric aircraft to fly 1,000 miles and beyond.

THE IDEA

A modern twist on a century-old approach

Our vision is for electric aircraft to play a pivotal role in the future of aviation. Electric aircraft fly with zero emissions, are highly efficient and cheap to operate. However, given the low energy density of batteries, they're only able to fly short routes with few passengers. Magpie Aerotowing overcomes this limitation by using a network of tow aircraft to enable long-range electric flight.
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Aerotowing – the approach of towing one aircraft with another – has a century-long history in aviation and is used in glider flying today. Magpie Aerotowing extends its applications across electric aircraft, eVTOLs, and military aviation.

how it works

A flight with Magpie Aerotowing

Without Magpie Aerotowing, a zero-emission aircraft simply couldn’t carry a full load of passengers on a flight like San Francisco to Seattle.

An electrified MAIN AIRCRAFT takes off and climbs to initial altitude.

The electrified TOW AIRCRAFT departs from its charging base at a secondary airport.

The two aircraft meet in the sky and connect autonomously, at a safe distance.
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The TOW AIRCRAFT begins towing while the MAIN AIRCRAFT idles for a smooth and quiet ride.

For longer routes, the TOW AIRCRAFT is swapped out en route.

With a network of tow aircraft based at secondary airports, a wide range of routes can be served.

A hybrid-electric MAIN AIRCRAFT takes off on electric power and climbs to initial altitude.

The TOW AIRCRAFT departs from its charging base at a secondary airport.

The two aircraft meet in the sky and connect autonomously, at a safe distance.
‍
The TOW AIRCRAFT begins towing while the MAIN AIRCRAFT idles for a smooth and quiet ride.

For longer routes, the TOW AIRCRAFT is swapped out enroute.

The Tow Aircraft are cycled quickly– following a charge, Tow Aircraft 1 will be back in the air serving another Main Aircraft before Tow Aircraft 2 lands.

Flight tests

Magpie Aerotowing in action

Magpie Aerotowing is built on existing technology and regulatory precedent, which allowed us to efficiently develop and test the technology. Through a comprehensive flight testing program, we demonstrated the world's first automated towing connections between two aircraft. This was enabled by the Active Hook, an autonomous device that tracked, positioned, and connected the two aircraft in repeated tests with centimeter-level precision.
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"The automated connection technology makes life simpler for the pilot. Connecting to the stabilized Active Hook is much easier than 'probe and drogue' aerial refueling used in the military, which requires a considerable amount of pilot skill."
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– Jim Payne, retired US Air Force Test Pilot

The Numbers

The cheapest zero emission solution

While the Magpie Aerotowing approach involves additional aircraft, it becomes cost-competitive at scale. It enables airlines to operate large electric aircraft over longer distances, leading to significant savings on fuel and maintenance costs. These savings offset the additional cost of towing, kept economical through the use of simple tow aircraft and operation from secondary airports.

‍This is in line with industry predictions that battery-electric aircraft will be substantially cheaper than sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”) or hydrogen-powered aircraft.

News archive

The Air Current

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September 6, 2023

Without a clean grid, today's plan for decarbonizing aviation won't fly

Magpie Aviation's far-out concept provides a window into the true challenges of decarbonizing flight.

Saturday Startup Series

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July 24, 2023

S3 Episode 1 – Magpie Aviation

Alumni of both Makani and Kitthyawk, Magpie co-founders Damon and Andy are working to develop a truly zero carbon solution for flight, by towing electric aircraft with other electric aircraft.

Aviation Week

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April 24, 2023

Magpie Unveils Concept For Long-Range Sustainable Flight

In the race for sustainable aviation, developers of both electric- and hydrogen-powered aircraft face the same problem: how to provide enough range without over-penalizing payload.

Magpie today

In 2024, Magpie Aviation was acquired by Ampaire, a global leader in hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion. Development of Magpie's aerotowing technology will continue under their leadership.

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