Radia has signed new supplier agreements with Latecoere and Stirling Dynamics to advance the development of WindRunner, which it says will be the world’s largest cargo aircraft.
WindRunner has a maximum payload weight of 72.6 tonnes with a maximum payload range of 2,000 km or 1,200 miles.
Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado and Rome, Radia said the WindRunner has ten times the volume of a 777.
The aircraft has been designed to enable direct transport of oversized cargo across defence, energy, commercial, aerospace, and humanitarian missions without reliance on specialised infrastructure.
Its primary purpose is to transport wind turbine blades, up to approximately 105 metres, directly to remote wind farm sites that are inaccessible by road, rail, or conventional cargo aircraft.
Radia said its new supplier agreements with Latecoere and Stirling Dynamics provide critical capabilities spanning aircraft systems integration, flight controls, and electrical architecture.
The input from these two companies will support Radia’s manufacturing plan and its eventual goals to certify and operate the aircraft.
“Building WindRunner requires more than designing a revolutionary aircraft. It requires assembling a world-class industrial ecosystem capable of delivering at an unprecedented scale,” said Mark Lundstrom, founder and chief executive of Radia.
“Latecoere and Stirling Dynamics bring specialised expertise that strengthens a critical part of the program. These organizations are helping establish an industrial foundation that will enable WindRunner to transform how oversized cargo moves across defense, energy, aerospace, commercial, and humanitarian applications.”
To support the development of the Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS) for WindRunner, Latecoere brings extensive experience in aircraft electrical systems.
“WindRunner represents one of the most ambitious aerospace development programs underway today,” stated Sam Marnick, president Americas of Latecoere.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Radia and contribute our expertise in aircraft electrical systems integration to support the development of this groundbreaking aircraft. The scale and complexity of WindRunner create exciting opportunities for innovation and collaboration across the aerospace industry.”
Flight controls integration
Radia and Stirling Dynamics have also entered into an agreement supporting flight controls integration activities for WindRunner.
Stirling Dynamics will contribute its expertise in flight control systems, simulation, and aircraft engineering to support the development of safe, efficient, and reliable aircraft operations.
“We are excited to collaborate with Radia to support the development of a truly transformational aircraft platform” said Bandula Pathinayake, vice president of Stirling Dynamics.
“Windrunner will redefine what is possible in air cargo transportation, and we look forward to applying our expertise in flight controls, systems engineering, and simulation as the programme moves through the integration phase”.
