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Unpowered cargo gliders on tow ropes promise 65% cheaper air freight (newatlas.com)

submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago (3 children)

Wouldn't it require the same amount of energy to get airborn / propaget as any other powered aircraft? Because, like, physics...

[–] [email protected] 19 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

More recently, the US Air Mobility Command tried flying one C-17 Globemaster III some 3-6,000 ft (900-1800m) back from another, "surfing" the vortices left in the lead plane's wake – much like ducks flying in formation – and found there were double-digit fuel savings to be gained.

But Texas startup Aerolane says the savings will be much more substantial with purpose-built autonomous cargo gliders connected to the lead plane with a simple tow rope. With no propulsion systems, you save all the weight of engines, motors, fuel or batteries. There'll be no cabin for a pilot, just space for cargo and the autonomous flight control systems that'll run them.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

That's while they're in the air. How much extra power will it take to get the whole shebang airborne?

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