Detachable-wing aircraft that can transform into a train
Link & Fly is an aircraft design with a separate fuselage and wings, which can be transformed into a train car to drop off passengers or cargo at stations.
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Detachable wing aircraft that can transform into a train. |
Akka Technologies unveils Link & Fly modular design with detachable passenger cabin and wings to speed up boarding and make getting in and out of airports easier,BloombergThe Link & Fly offers passenger or freight options, which can be converted into a train car that allows passengers and freight to be dropped off at local stations, according to a video demonstrating how the system works.
Akka hopes the design will attract the attention of aviation companies looking to incorporate some of the new technology into future aircraft models.
According to Akka, passengers or cargo will board the cargo bay in a dedicated area. Then the fuselage will roll down the runway to join the wings and engines. The system uses automatic alignment technology so all the parts fit together.
Link & Fly is unlikely to become a finished product, but various parts of the design could be used to improve air travel. “Airplanes need to be more efficient, less polluting, less noisy. Our role is to guide customers to future technologies,” said Maurice Ricci, CEO of Akka Technologies.
Akka Technologies says the aircraft can reach a maximum altitude of 12,100 meters (39,000 feet) at a cruising speed of about 600 mph (967 kph). The Link & Fly design is 33.8 meters long, 8.2 meters tall, and has a wingspan of 48.8 meters. In cargo mode, the aircraft can even function as a drone.