Some bird species, such as geese, conserve energy by flying in close formation. Applying a similar strategy could help airliners reduce fuel consumption.
During the early 1500s, the Italian Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci became captivated by avian flight. He meticulously studied birds, observing how they maintain balance and execute soaring maneuvers, leading to the creation of the influential "Codex on the Flight of Birds." This work laid the foundation for "biomimicry," the study of nature for efficient design inspiration.
Centuries later, pioneers like Otto Lilienthal, Igo Etrich, and the Wright brothers drew inspiration from birds to develop aircraft, giving rise to the aviation industry.
Delta's chief sustainability officer, Amelia DeLuca, pointed out that the current spacing between planes, typically three to five nautical miles (5.5 to 9.2 km), could potentially be reduced to increase efficiency without compromising safety.
Regarding the choice of transatlantic flights for testing, DeLuca explained, "there are very few sustainable solutions for wide bodies flying today, besides sustainable aviation fuel." Testing on transatlantic flights, with their high fuel consumption, could yield significant benefits.
Analyst Stephen Trent suggested that formation flying could prove useful on certain routes, depending on factors like geographic location and aircraft type.
DeLuca highlighted the potential economic benefits for rural communities by shifting soy and corn ethanol production towards sustainable aviation fuel, which could generate jobs and attract investments.
Despite the benefits, Trent noted that sustainable aviation fuel's higher cost compared to conventional fuel remains a hurdle that needs to be addressed through increased production and cost reductions.
Amid growing interest in biomimicry across the airline industry, Airbus' chief sustainability officer, Julie Kitcher, emphasized the value of learning from birds, nature's experts in flight. The concept of formation flying continues to be a source of inspiration in aviation.