Ready for Takeoff: World’s Largest Cargo Plane
Currently in development by U.S. aerospace company Radia, the WindRunner is set to claim some heavy-lifting records, including greatest cargo volume. Here’s what’s on the manifest:
The WindRunner aircraft will offer a cargo volume approximately 12 times greater than that of a Boeing 747-400 and nine times that of the largest remaining Antonov aircraft, the An-124.
The aircraft can transport gigantic wind turbine blades to remote onshore locations, facilitating the creation of more wind farms.
WindRunner was designed to help build GigaWind—gigantic onshore wind turbines, which are significantly more powerful than traditional turbines. GigaWind could supply up to 40% of total U.S. electricity generation by 2050.
The 108-meter-long (more than 354 feet) aircraft is also being considered for additional applications, including military transport. It can carry up to six F-16 fighter jets or six Chinook helicopters with their rotors still attached.
WindRunner optimizes volume rather than weight, an approach that sets it apart from other heavy-lift transport aircraft. This means it can move a lot of mass (80 tons) as well as carry a 100-meter-plus-long blade (more than 328 feet long). Powered by four fuel-efficient engines, WindRunner can reach cruise speeds of up to Mach 0.6 (around 460 miles/hour).