Hybrid-electric powertrain pioneer Ampaire is further expanding its portfolio of sustainable flight solutions with the acquisition of Magpie Aviation, a start-up that’s developing an autonomous “aerotow” to extend the range of large electric aircraft by tugging them through the atmosphere.
Los Angeles-based Ampaire has spent the past seven years developing hybrid-electric propulsion systems as retrofits for existing aircraft to reduce emissions and fuel costs. But recently the powertrain specialist has been branching out into new territories. In July, Ampaire announced its acquisition of Talyn Air, a start-up developing a unique dual-vehicle eVTOL system.
“Building upon our recent acquisition of Talyn Air, the addition of Magpie exemplifies our deliberate approach to integrating pivotal companies and assets on our path to accelerate our leadership in electrified aviation,” Ampaire CEO Kevin Noertker said in a written statement. “With this acquisition, Ampaire anticipates further revenue growth across both commercial and defense sectors while simultaneously enhancing the capabilities and mission scope of our existing hybrid aircraft.”
Nearly one year ago, Magpie demonstrated its electric aerotow concept in flight for the first time. The company used a small Pipistrel airplane to tow a glider (a PIK-20D sailplane) after grappling it in midair using a tether with an “active hook” mechanism, which automatically steers itself toward the glider’s nose. Magpie’s original concept called for autonomous, electric tug airplanes that could potentially take turns towing larger battery-powered airplanes in cruise flight, allowing the larger vehicles to fly farther by reducing their power consumption. Magpie has been developing this concept since 2022 with some support from government contracts, including with the U.S. Air Force.
“We founded Magpie because we believe electrified aircraft have a pivotal role to play in the future of aviation,” said company CEO Damon Vander Lind. “I am thrilled to see this vision continuing to move forward under Ampaire’s banner. Not only does this lift the prospects of civilian electric aircraft and meaningful emission reductions in the future, it also helps Ampaire to serve military customers with their needs, right now.”
Although Ampaire has yet to dabble in autonomous aircraft operations, the company “believes that electrification can enable increased levels of autonomy, and we will collaborate with other industry players to advance these autonomy applications,” a company spokesperson told AIN. “There are autonomy options for both the tow vehicle (e.g. Caravan) and the glider. Initial flights will be piloted.”
Magpie’s idea bears some similarities to Talyn’s dual-vehicle concept, which envisions an eVTOL aircraft that vertically hoists electric airplanes to cruising altitude and returns to its base after separation. When the cruise vehicle approaches its destination, a second eVTOL lifting vehicle would fetch it from the sky and lower it down to the ground. This system would allow electric airplanes without vertical flight capabilities to take off and land vertically in areas without runways, such as helipads and vertiports. Using a secondary vehicle for vertical propulsion also reduces the primary aircraft’s power consumption during takeoff and landing, allowing it to fly longer distances.
At the time of the Talyn acquisition, Noertker told AIN that the company will continue to develop Talyn’s dual-vehicle concept but is focusing primarily on the “lift” aircraft rather than producing two vehicles. Noertker envisions a hybrid-electric lift vehicle that could potentially be compatible with several different types of aircraft.
Ampaire is working to secure supplemental type certificates (STC) to convert existing aircraft such as the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan and the Twin Otter to run on its AMP Drive hybrid-electric powertrain, which it says will deliver a 50 to 70 percent reduction in fuel burn and carbon emissions. The company aims to have its first STC for the Eco Caravan in hand by the end of this year. The Eco Caravan made its first flight in November 2022.
Last month Ampaire announced it had successfully conducted ground tests with its hybrid-electric propulsion system running on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel. In December, Ampaire claimed to have set the world record for the longest flight of a hybrid-electric aircraft with its Electric EEL technology demonstrator—a Cessna 337 Skymaster retrofitted with an electric motor. Ampaire has been using the Electric EEL to develop the AMP-H570 plug-in hybrid-electric powertrain featured in the company’s Eco Caravan product, a converted 208B Caravan.
