Can A "Flying Piano" Surf?

It sounds rather fantastical but an airborne surfing "flying piano" relates to an innovation that is hoped may revolutionise the air cargo market. The latest test aircraft from US start-up Aerolane is known as the "flying piano" because of its poor gliding characteristics but it is being used to try and find a better way to get more out of existing aircraft.

In a similar way as mentioned recently by one of my colleagues, this innovation is "going back to nature" as it takes inspiration from geese or ducks flying in a v-formation and surfing on the air currents created by formation members ahead and around them.The plan is for an unmanned cargo plane to be towed by a jet (also carrying cargo) with the towed cargo plane being guided through wakes and turbulence to exploit the possibilities of gliding long distances without burning fuel. Ultimately, the goal is autonomous operation using AI which would also help alleviate problems relating to shortage of pilots in