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What is their safety case? How are they planning to handle aborted takeoffs of towing plane, for example? How does it integrate with ATC? During towing? Durin

by tintor 1y ago

What is their safety case? How are they planning to handle aborted takeoffs of towing plane, for example? How does it integrate with ATC? During towing? During landing of glider? This video claims that trailer is landing separately and autonomously. Obscure of details. https://www.aerolane.com/news/florida-2025-q1-tests https://www.aerolane.com/news/florida-2025-q1-tests

ricardobeat 1y ago
It looks like the prototypes land separately because they are converted aircraft. The production glider uses autopilot and is meant to land behind the main aircraft.
bigwheels 1y ago
Also, how much does it decrease the fuel economy of the towing plane? I sure wouldn't want to be on a Boeing 7XX flight with one of these things in tow. Just imagine the possibility for human and machine error, the plane in tow could cause all manner of issues for the leader. Ever tried riding a bike and towing someone on another bike or a skateboard? It's perilous. Now do it in the air. Gutsy.
- cirrus3 1y ago
  > how much does it decrease the fuel economy of the towing plane Probably a lot, but I'd assume it is by less than the fuel that 1-2x more planes would use, otherwise there wouldn't be a point to doing this.
  - gervwyk 1y ago
    I did a masters on design a autopilot to optimize fuel consumption in formation flight. What is interesting about the aerodynamics is that if placed in the upwash wake of the leader, you are essentially increasing the wing aspect ratio of the system, resulting in gains for both the leader and the follower aircraft. Feels very unintuitive but basically the donut spool is larger and the combined wing is bigger in the spool.
    - hermitcrab 1y ago
      Apparently that is part of the reason geese fly in formation.
    - sysguest 1y ago
      could you provide a link for this? I'm interested but I'm not sure what to google for
      - rkomorn 1y ago
        You might also be interested in Airbus' fello'fly project: https://www.airbus.com/en/innovation/future-aircraft-operations/air-traffic-management/fellofly-and-geese https://www.airbus.com/en/innovation/future-aircraft-operati...

by tintor 1y ago

ricardobeat 1y ago

It looks like the prototypes land separately because they are converted aircraft. The production glider uses autopilot and is meant to land behind the main aircraft.

bigwheels 1y ago

Also, how much does it decrease the fuel economy of the towing plane? I sure wouldn't want to be on a Boeing 7XX flight with one of these things in tow. Just imagine the possibility for human and machine error, the plane in tow could cause all manner of issues for the leader. Ever tried riding a bike and towing someone on another bike or a skateboard? It's perilous. Now do it in the air. Gutsy.

cirrus3 1y ago
> how much does it decrease the fuel economy of the towing plane Probably a lot, but I'd assume it is by less than the fuel that 1-2x more planes would use, otherwise there wouldn't be a point to doing this.
- gervwyk 1y ago
  I did a masters on design a autopilot to optimize fuel consumption in formation flight. What is interesting about the aerodynamics is that if placed in the upwash wake of the leader, you are essentially increasing the wing aspect ratio of the system, resulting in gains for both the leader and the follower aircraft. Feels very unintuitive but basically the donut spool is larger and the combined wing is bigger in the spool.
  - hermitcrab 1y ago
    Apparently that is part of the reason geese fly in formation.
  - sysguest 1y ago
    could you provide a link for this? I'm interested but I'm not sure what to google for
    - rkomorn 1y ago
      You might also be interested in Airbus' fello'fly project: https://www.airbus.com/en/innovation/future-aircraft-operations/air-traffic-management/fellofly-and-geese https://www.airbus.com/en/innovation/future-aircraft-operati...