Formula One racing team develops cargo drone family

U.K.-based Formula One team MGI Engineering has unveiled a scale demonstrator of its Mosquito electric vertical takeoff and landing cargo drone, with plans for commercial availability of two versions in 2024 and 2025.

The remotely piloted Mosquito 0.1 technology demonstrator has a payload capacity of up to 20 kilograms with a 45-nautical-mile range and will hit the market in the first half of 2024, MGI Engineering told Cargo Facts. The drone will be autonomous when it is offered commercially. 

The company’s larger Mosquito 1.0 drone boasts a payload capacity of up to 200 kg and a range of up to 120 nautical miles. MGI Engineering told Cargo Facts that it will focus on production of the smaller 0.1 before expanding to drones with greater range and payload.  

MGI, which previously provided engineering solutions for the Lotus Formula One team, said that it will leverage its background of maximizing performance to create ultra-lightweight aircraft with optimized range and battery performance. The company also plans to partner with other drone companies to provide solutions for airspace integration. 

While officially unveiled last month, the Mosquito 0.1 had its first flight in November 2022, with its first transition from vertical takeoff to horizontal flight in January.  

While there has been interest in MGI’s drones since the official launch of its program, the company has decided to focus on building the drone before attracting orders, the company said.