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

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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:

MGI Engineering, founded by renowned F1 engineer Mike Gascoyne, is pivoting its focus from motorsport to developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) cargo drones.
The company aims to apply F1's competitive engineering principles, particularly in weight reduction and aerodynamics, to innovate in the nascent eVTOL industry.
MGI is developing configurable "Mosquito" cargo drone models with payloads up to 1,100 pounds, prioritizing specialized rural deliveries (e.g., medical, ship-to-shore) to establish a safety record and public acceptance before venturing into 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.