F1 Engineering Gives Lift to Cargo eVTOL Drone Design

MGI Engineering, a maker of motorsport technology, just unveiled its cargo drone demonstrator—here’s what the CEO had to say.

Jack Daleo

Friday, April 28, 2023 at 01:13 PM ET

Verified

Mike Gascoyne, founder and CEO of MGI Engineering, in front of the company’s eVTOL cargo drone demonstrator and an F1 car. [Courtesy: MGI Engineering]

Key Takeaways:

F1 engineering veteran Mike Gascoyne's MGI Engineering is pivoting its focus to the aerospace industry, specifically developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) cargo drones.
MGI leverages Formula 1's advanced aerodynamic and lightweight design principles to create configurable "Mosquito" cargo drone systems, aiming to overcome the critical weight and payload challenges inherent in eVTOL technology.
The company plans to develop both small (up to 44 lbs) and large (up to 1,100 lbs) cargo drone models, prioritizing applications like medical and rural deliveries to build a safety record and industry acceptance before expanding to urban or passenger transport.

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Mike Gascoyne has climbed the Himalayas. He’s completed a 3,200-mile crossing of the Atlantic by himself. He’s spent over 25 years at the senior technical management level in Formula 1, working for teams around the world. But Gascoyne’s next challenge might be his biggest.

MGI Engineering, founded by Gascoyne in 2003, has served the motorsport industry for decades now—and even launched its own F1 team, Caterham. Now, the firm is pivoting to a new focus: aerospace, specifically electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) cargo drones.