It's not too hard to engineer a system that could handle missing a beamed refuel. One could achieve a lot of benefits from a hybrid turbine that uses fuel for

It's not too hard to engineer a system that could handle missing a beamed refuel. One could achieve a lot of benefits from a hybrid turbine that uses fuel for take-off and "emergency events", and powered electric from satellites. I'd assume that there would be a whole constellation of satellites, so if one is missed the next would be within range, or the plane could land safely with a backup liquid fuel supply. Ideally the plane would have a high glide slope ratio. Satellites with beam forming technologies could also map out thermals and plot out ideal courses. This is all a thought experiment on achievable engineering. Have fun with it.