The Aerocraft would have a cargo capacity of around 500 tonnes and a top speed of 180kph.

ECONOMIST: Pushing the envelope

The current situation is with the priority being given to food and according to the cargo capacity to try to bring seeds and tools to give them hope to build a future.

BBC: Sudan - should we do more?

Winkler sees this kind of arrangement as a way to allay concerns that owning a two-seat car like the smart fortwo, with its limited cargo capacity, would be too much of an inconvenience.

FORBES: How Smart's CEO Plans To Get Its Mojo Back

But this would eat into its cargo-lifting capacity.

ECONOMIST: Autonomous helicopters

The US also considering giving "airlift capacity" to the effort, similar to what the British have provided in two cargo planes, according to the officials.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS