Startup Aerolane to seek glider okay
- Latest News
- Monday, 18 March 2024
US startup Aerolane wants the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to okay its plan to tow 'cargo gliders' behind small freighter planes, saying it is a viable transport option - and the US military employed gliders extensively during World War II to drop soldiers and equipment behind enemy lines.
The firm says potential savings could be as much as 65 per cent less fuel burn when the gliders are purpose-built for aerodynamics.
Aerolane doesn't have any customers for its plan as yet, but one of its founders, Gur Kimchi, who was involved in Amazon’s early drone delivery program, says the savings on fuel and operating costs will encourage customers.
Investors RedBlue Capital and former Boeing chief Dennis Muilenburg have already put US$10 million into the firm, it says.
If Aerolane wins initial FAA approval, it plans to design and manufacture a glider with capacity to carry three tons of cargo and a 10-ton capacity glider could follow.
