Pentagon would incorporate the world’s largest airplane into its arsenal

The US Army is investigating the ways of using an airplane before the construction. Windrunner will be the largest machine bird ever built. Despite the fact that the giant is primarily designed to transport gigantic wind turbine bases, there are many other uses. For example, it can also be suitable for military logistics tasks that have been used to solve completely different methods so far without the right tool.

• Windrunner could be the world’s largest airplane designed mainly to transport wind turbine bases

• The machine is also suitable for military logistics and other shipping tasks with a huge cargo compartment and load

• Pentagon is studying the machine’s suitability for transporting military loads

• The peculiarity of Windrunner is that it can operate on unspecified runways so that it reaches remote or heavy accessible places

Developed by Radia in Colorado Windrunner It is planned to be 108 meters long and the wingspan reaches 80 meters. These dimensions designate an area of ​​about the same size as a football field corresponding to international standards. THE aircraft carcass capacity is approximately 12 times larger than one Boeing 747Jumbo Jeté and maximum useful load capacity is 72,575 kilograms.

Also absorbs the 100 -meter wind blades

Windrunner’s dimensions were determined by being able to transport 100 meters long turbine bases for remote wind power plants in the continental area of ​​the United States. But there may also be other use of huge cargo capacity, said Kenneth Bibb Jr., Vice President of Radia Defense Development According to NewScientist.

« Windrunner allows you to transport the world’s biggest things to the most difficult places. This cooperation shows how commercial abilities can help US national protection by integrating military demands and satisfying them. Together with Windrunner’s unique design and abilities, we can find innovative the US Department of Defense’s ability to respond to global challenges ” – said Mark Lundstromfounder and CEO of Radia.

Such a huge aircraft could complement the aging aircraft fleet of the US Air Force, including the C-17 Globemaster III and the C-5 Galaxy, which Bibb had previously served as a major in the Air Force. « Windrunner can carry a cargo that is too big for a C-17 or C-5, » says Bibb.

The US Department of Defense has signed an agreement with Radia to study how Windrunner could have military loads such as vehicles, oversized equipment and smaller aircraft such as F-16 fighter jets and V-22 OSPREY tilting airplanes to deliver.

Can also operate from surprisingly short runways

One of the reasons for the army’s interest may be that Radia claims that the huge machine can land on and down on an unpaved runways of up to 1,800 meters. « Thanks to its ability to land on short, unpaid runways, it provides flexibility during humanitarian crises and fights, » says Bibb.

However, Greg Malandrino, a Washington Defense Policy Brainstorm, a member of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, says that this feat- and other maneuvers, such as the position of cargo in and unloading- will be a very serious challenge when the world’s largest aircraft is located in remote locations.

According to Malandrino, converting a special wind turbine to a multi-purpose freight aircraft is also difficult, but not impossible. Windrunner’s recommended 2000 kilometer range may be the most useful load for shorter air transport tasks among military air bases with typical paved runways in North America, South America or Europe. If the construction allows air refilling, it would allow Windrunner to operate in remote locations – noted the Newscientist.