Aeronautical manufacturer Radia has taken a key step in the validation of its WindRunner aircraft after signing a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Department of Defense. The objective of the agreement is to evaluate the use of the WindRunner for oversized cargo operations in both civil and military scenarios.
WindRunner features
At 109 meters in length and with a wingspan of 80 meters, the WindRunner far surpasses conventional freighters. Its internal volume is twelve times that of a Boeing 747, allowing the transport of aerospace components, emergency equipment and large-scale wind turbines. In addition, it has been designed to operate from short, unpaved runways, increasing its versatility in complex logistics missions.
The joint study with the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) will seek to define whether the WindRunner can be integrated into the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF). This fleet is composed of commercial aircraft ready to be activated in national emergency situations.
The collaboration also includes analysis of cargo handling, suitability to existing ground infrastructures and WindRunner’s adaptability to various mission profiles, including humanitarian and defense deployments.
A solution to logistical challenges
Mark Lundstrom, CEO of Radia, noted that the aircraft could transform the transport of high-volume components in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
The WindRunner makes it possible to deliver the world’s largest objects to the most inaccessible places.
Lundstrom noted.
This capability makes it a strategic asset for both national security missions and the advancement of land-based renewable energy.
Radia expects the WindRunner to enter operations later this decade, opening a new era for dual-use cargo transportation in the United States and its allies.
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Source and photo: Radia
