A revolutionary new aircraft design is set to create the largest plane ever to fly

 

A revolutionary new aircraft design is set to create the largest plane ever to fly, with the goal of transporting gigantic wind turbine components to onshore wind farms. Colorado-based energy startup Radia is developing the WindRunner airplane, which will have a cargo bay volume of 272,000 cubic feet, enough to hold three Olympic swimming pools.

The WindRunner will be a behemoth of a plane, with a length of 356 feet and a wingspan of 261 feet, dwarfing even the Antonov An-225, the heaviest aircraft ever built. However, Radia is focusing on using existing technology and safety features, such as tried-and-true aviation materials and components, to ensure a fast and well-built fleet that meets aerospace industry standards.

The plane's mission is to deliver extra-large wind turbine components directly to onshore wind farms, which are a potential growth option for meeting global energy demands. Larger wind turbines produce more power than standard ones, but their components are too big to be transported by road. The WindRunner will use sustainable aviation fuel and can land on airstrips as short as 6,000 feet, making it an ideal solution for delivering these massive components.

Radia has patented a system for loading blades into the WindRunner, which will be able to carry blades of up to 104 meters (341 feet) in length. This is significantly larger than the 230 feet or less (70 meters) of current turbine blades. The company believes that its GigaWind turbines could potentially be two to three times more powerful and profitable than those typically deployed today.

The development of the WindRunner is a response to the growing demand for onshore wind energy, with research organization Bloomberg NEF estimating that up to $10 trillion will be spent on onshore wind through 2050. Radia's team of advisers includes former top brass from Boeing, MIT, Rolls-Royce, and the FAA, as well as former US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz and former Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull.

While there is no confirmed timeline for the WindRunner's commercial operations, online reports suggest that it could be as soon as 2027. If successful, the WindRunner could revolutionize the transportation of wind turbine components and play a significant role in meeting global energy demands. Its distinctive shape may even become as iconic as the Beluga XL transporter planes created by Airbus.