Could the 'flying piano' help transform air cargo?
Known as the "flying piano," Aerolane's experimental aircraft is gliding through the atmosphere with the help of air currents.
Aerolane, a new company in the United States, is on a mission to discover the key to surfing in the air.
Geese are experts at the technique. By flying in a v-formation, they are taking advantage of the air currents produced by the geese in front and beside them.
In a Texas airstrip, Todd Graetz aims to shake up the air cargo industry by utilizing this idea.
Airplanes have been imitating the behaviors of migrating birds, with the help of specially equipped planes that are lifted into the sky by another aircraft.
The smoke coming from the front plane helped the cameras on the towed aircraft see spiraling patterns in the sky that a glider can use to stay in the air.
Their most recent experimental plane has been nicknamed the "flying piano" due to its subpar gliding abilities.
The two engines are running at a low speed to generate electricity as the aircraft moves smoothly with the propellers spinning solely for aerodynamic efficiency.
Different experiments have assessed the stress in the towing rope.
They noticed that the string became loose, showing that the glider was riding on air currents created by the plane in front.
Aerolane intends to input all of this data into a program that will navigate an unmanned cargo plane through air disturbances in order to take advantage of the opportunity to fly long distances without using fuel.
A jet could pull one or more cargo planes to their destination where they would land by themselves.
The only expenses for fuel would be to power the engines of the towing aircraft.
The idea is that this should function similar to a truck towing a trailer, with wind currents taking care of most of the work. Mr. Graetz refers to this as a mix of gliding and surfing.
Airbus also came up with this idea and decided to test it in 2021 by conducting an experiment with two A350 aircraft flying 3km apart over the Atlantic Ocean.
Even though the airplanes were not linked by a tow line, the test demonstrated one airplane benefitting from the lift created by the leading A350's wake to decrease CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.
Airbus has tried out flying a plane behind another plane to save on fuel costs.
Mr. Graetz, an experienced pilot who has been flying for 12 years, teamed up with Gur Kimchi, a former member of Amazon's drone delivery program, to create Aerolane. They believed that there must be a more efficient way to utilize current aircrafts.
The project has caused concern among seasoned pilots. Operating large gliders in commercial airspace requires compliance with rigorous flight safety rules.
For example, the plane towing the glider must be sure that it can detach the tow line at any time during the flight, knowing that the glider with its autopilot can safely land on a runway without landing on the nearby residents.
Aerolane explains that a compact electric motor powering a propeller can serve as a backup plan on their cargo gliders, providing enough power to try landing again if needed or to change course to a nearby location.
Aerolane dreams that a similar type of glider could transport air cargo in the future.
Mr. Graetz argues that Aerolane has hired experienced commercial pilots who are realistic about the logistics of the project.
"We have hired external consultants to play devil's advocate," he mentions.
He explains that large shipping companies are keen on any methods that help them reduce the price for each shipment.
In addition to the price of fuel, air cargo companies must also consider the carbon emissions from jet engines and a limited number of pilots.
James Earl, a retired helicopter pilot from the RAF and expert in aviation, believes that Mr. Graetz might be onto something.
It makes sense that there are benefits to be gained by working together and collaborating in the air. Any new ideas or improvements in the field of transporting goods by air are positive.
But he warns that receiving approval from the public for cargo flights without engines over populated areas is a different matter altogether.
"It is important for the glider to have a sufficient gliding distance in case of a tow plane failure. However, effectively conveying this information to the public may pose a challenge."
Source of image by Fred Lopez
Fred Lopez had doubts about whether Aerolane would succeed at first.
Government officials are expected to proceed with caution, especially in the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration is facing scrutiny following significant issues with Boeing planes.
Mr. Graetz responded by saying that his team has met all of the requests from the FAA up to this point. He added, "The FAA has always been extremely cautious when it comes to risk. That's just how they operate!"
Fred Lopez dedicated 36 years of his career to working in aviation operations at UPS, a major cargo company. He describes his time there as investing his entire grown-up years into finding the most efficient methods for running an air freight business.
Mr. Lopez was very doubtful about cargo gliders when Aerolane first asked him to be involved. However, the potential for significant fuel efficiency convinced him to join their advisory board.
Reducing fuel expenses is a top priority in commercial aviation. By incorporating upturned wing-tips as a common design element, airlines were able to decrease fuel costs by approximately 5%.
However, gliders only use the fuel needed by the airplane that tows them. So, if the towing plane is also a cargo plane, having two gliders being pulled by one jet results in a big decrease in fuel usage for a large delivery.
The first Aerolane design incorporates both autopilot technology and a human "safety pilot" as referred to by Mr. Lopez. This combination is expected to streamline the FAA certification process.
The man from Aerolane explained that they are not attempting to make all the changes at once.
Their main objective is to achieve independent operation with the help of AI, according to Mr. Lopez's explanation of "removing the need for a pilot in the cockpit".
And who knows what other feats are achievable if the piano can surf through the air?
