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BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
The upstart company that wants to build the world's largest aircraft
The WindRunner is an ambitious aircraft project that could make it easier to use larger wind turbines. The company behind it, however, has never built a plane before. The WindRunner is already being called the largest aircraft in the world, before it has even been built. But this leviathan is not being made by Airbus, Boeing or Lockheed. It is being made by a company that has never built an aircraft before. Serial entrepreneur and aerospace engineer Mark Lundstrom founded Radia in 2016 to massively expand the size of the onshore wind power industry after he had a "eureka moment". Wind turbine blades installed offshore can reach 100m (345ft) in length – or more – much larger than those on land which tend to be only around 70m (230ft). This is due the difficulty of transporting something so large from the factory to a remote site on a plain or plateau. This in turn limits the economic viability of onshore wind power. If this problem could be solved, Lundstrom thought, then the longer blades would help onshore wind farms to produce more energy at a lower cost. "They can double or triple the economically viable land in the US for wind farms," says Lundstrom, and could enable the building of over one million of these "super" turbines by 2050, globally. The entrepreneur calls his vision "GigaWind". Now the company based in Boulder, Colorado has raised more than $150m (£110m) and attracted high-profile advisers to launch a possible solution: the WindRunner. The largest heavier-than-air machine in history is designed to make the transport of huge wind turbine blades a great deal easier and, Radia claims, trigger a revolution in onshore wind power. "We are building the world's largest aircraft and we're doing that because there's a gigantic gap in the capability of heavy-lift aircraft," says Lundstrom, the company's CEO and founder. "It amazes me that there is no large cargo aircraft in production or planned to meet this need, except for the Radia WindRunner. "It's the inability to move big things that is basically the barrier that prevents us from super-sizing onshore wind turbines," he says. There is one additional challenge. This huge machine must be able to navigate the runways and taxiways of existing airports as well as operate on the types of relatively short, semi-prepared airstrips that can easily be built next to wind farms. Such outsized giants have a precedent. The huge six-engine Antonov An-225 Mriya ("Dream" in Ukrainian) cargo plane used to be the world's biggest aircraft. Its cargo hold was longer than the Wright Brothers' first flight, from take-off to landing. But it was the only one its kind ever completed. Its destruction during the first stages of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was a symbolic blow to Ukraine, and a literal one to the world's aviation community. Overnight, the ability to transport extremely large and oversized cargo – whether complete railway engines, wind turbine blades or disaster relief – was lost. What's more, the An-225's one-time rivals in the strategic airlift category, such as the Boeing C-17 Globemaster, the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy and the Antonov An-124 "Ruslan" are all out of production, growing long in the tooth and – particularly in the case of the Antonov – less available owing to the war in Ukraine. There was only one problem when Radia considered this new project: it had never built an aircraft before. Lundstrom assembled an experienced team to design its specification before it was unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow in 2024. An airship was one solution the team considered, but they decided on a huge fixed-wing aircraft. "We looked at all the different possible ways to move big components," says Lundstrom, "and decided that the best way to go is to a fixed-wing aircraft, designed around aerospace components most of which are in already in mass production today." The most distinctive feature of this gargantuan fixed-wing aircraft is its huge straight wing, needed to take off and land on a relatively short semi-prepared runway. If it is constructed, the massive cargo lifter will measure 108m (356ft) in length with an 80m (261ft) wingspan, dictated by the need to load its cargo at a modern airport, and would have a vast payload bay around six times bigger than that of the Antonov An-225. It would have the biggest cross-section of all heavy-lift aircraft yet constructed. It would be able to haul three 80m (260ft) wind turbine blades, or two 95m (310ft) ones, or one 105m (345ft) blade, and land on a 1,800m (6,000ft) unpaved runway. But it will only be able to lift 72,500kg (74 tonnes) and fly it 2,000 km (1,200 miles). This means the WindRunner, if it is built, looks likely to be confined to flights within North America, Europe or South America. "Yes, there's lots of challenges," Lundstrom says. "But the fundamental principles of the WindRunner's development have been: don't do anything new, and develop the minimum viable aircraft that's necessary for the mission." This means no new regulations, supply chains or hangars around the world. "This sadly rules out airships." To make this vision a reality, Lundstrom and his team have recruited experienced suppliers , including Italy's Leonardo for the fuselage, Spain's Aernnova for the wing and engine pylons, and the United States's AFuzion to oversee safety features. However, the lack of a named engine supplier has raised questions about the project's viability. But a Radia spokesperson told the BBC that this should not be an issue for much longer. "We have selected an existing certified engine and have been doing work to define the integration strategy on the airframe. We will be announcing the engine partner in the future. "We expect the development will be cost-effective thanks to Radia's emphasis on reusing as many existing systems, components and technologies as possible," they added. "The unit cost will be commensurate with the weight and size of the aircraft, and therefore comparable with other wide-body civil aircraft." The aerospace industry has had visionaries in the past who similarly wanted to build the heaviest plane ever made, or the largest aircraft ever to fly. Like them, they have, at most, only built one or two examples of these outsized machines. Naturally, some observers are cautious about the prospects of the WindRunner. "I just don't see how it is going to work unless they can get more capital investment," says aviation author and commentator Chris Pocock. "The WindRunner doesn't have transatlantic range and so it is not as attractive from that point of view as an outsized cargo carrier." Pocock also believes Radia was "too dismissive" of airships as a solution. "The designers of hybrid airships are eyeing the same market," he says. "The two most credible hybrid airship designs are not currently designed to carry cargo this size, but they both could be scaled up." It may be that politics simply gets in the way. US President Donald Trump has called wind power "garbage" and has issued an executive order against its expansion. But the advantages of onshore wind energy, plus the need for energy security, may help make a business case for it in the US. In May 2025, the US Department of Defense signed an agreement with Radia to study how the WindRunner could carry military cargo. This appeared to be a pivot away from the wind turbine market. But a Radia spokesperson told the BBC that this is not the case. "Radia's core mission remains serving the onshore wind energy market… but WindRunner's unique capabilities mean there are many additional applications, including defence." In an email to the BBC, Radia said their last funding round was oversubscribed, and they are now working with governments and investors on the next major and larger infusion of investment. So far, however, Radia have only tested a very small-sized WindRunner model in a wind tunnel. Like other aviation manufacturers and startups, Radia appears to be keen to speed up, and reduce the cost, of the lengthy expensive process to certify the WindRunner safe to fly. To do this along with the use of certified components, they don't plan on building a traditional prototype. Rather, the use of digital design tools should enable the company's next step to be the building of several full-sized test aircraft, the first flight of which is planned by the end of the decade, and then go straight into production. But certification is a daunting process for any aircraft manufacturer, let alone a new one. More like this:• Pathfinder 1: The airship that may under in a new era• Can we really fuel planes with fat and sugar?• Balloons built for the edge of space "I… spent a lot of time working with a startup at a former employer," says aviation analyst and commentator Bill Sweetman. "There was a hard business case, a lower technology risk [than the WindRunner], far smaller in scale and easier to get into production, but it was still hard to certify." The news that Boeing is in the very early stages of discussing the possibility of restarting production of its rival C-17 only adds to the pressure WindRunner faces, even if, as a Radia spokesperson in an email tells the BBC, there is enough pent up demand for both planes, and the WindRunner should be flying before any new C-17 rolls off the production line. Is the prize WindRunner hopes to claim moving out of reach before the race starts? -- For more science, technology, environment and health stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Hans India
24-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Top academic achievers from govt schools honoured
Bengaluru: ZEISS, a global leader in optics and optoelectronics, today celebrated the academic success of 40 meritorious students in Bengaluru through its impactful POWER ON initiative. As part of this unique program, laptops were distributed to high scorers in the recent board examinations. The initiative aimed to underscore ZEISS's dedication to nurturing young talent and fostering a technologically empowered future through education. At ZEISS India, we believe that every child deserves hope and a clear path to achieve it. This initiative isn't just a gesture, it stems from our deep conviction that talent is universal, though opportunity isn't always equally distributed. We see countless bright students whose immense potential remains untapped, simply because of financial barriers or a lack of resources. Our goal is to act as the catalyst that ignites aspirations by providing the crucial support students need. Select 40 academic achievers, from Bengaluru, were selected from Government High School Hebbagodi, Government High School Chandapura, Nazareth School Chandapura, Government PU College for Girls (Ramamurthy Nagar), Government High School Anekal, and St. Peter's High School Kengeri. During the felicitation event, Dhaval Radia, Chief Financial Officer of ZEISS India, emphasized the company's commitment to community and innovation. 'A society thrives when its seniors invest in the future, even if they may not personally witness the full benefit of their contributions. This ethos signifies a healthy and forward-looking community. At ZEISS, our foundation is built on innovation and a deep commitment to being an integral part of the communities in which we operate. This event is a testimony of the company's dedication to community engagement and growth. ' Through this initiative, we aim to provide students with essential access to information and resources, thereby empowering them to shape a promising world for future generations' said Radia.
Sustainability Times
15-06-2025
- Business
- Sustainability Times
'As Long as Three Airbus A320s': The WindRunner Megaplane Is About to Reshape Wind Power and Rewrite the Future of Green Energy
IN A NUTSHELL 🛩️ The WindRunner aircraft by Radia is designed to revolutionize the transportation of large-scale wind turbines. aircraft by Radia is designed to revolutionize the transportation of large-scale wind turbines. 🚜 It overcomes significant logistical challenges , enabling access to remote sites for wind farm installation. , enabling access to remote sites for wind farm installation. 📏 With a colossal size, it surpasses traditional cargo planes, enhancing the efficiency of wind energy production. 🌍 The WindRunner plays a crucial role in the global energy transition, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions. The aviation industry is abuzz with excitement as the WindRunner, an ambitious project by Radia, takes flight. This colossal cargo plane is engineered to revolutionize the transportation of large-scale land wind turbines. By overcoming current logistical barriers, the WindRunner promises to transform how we harness wind energy, enabling access to previously unreachable sites. With its impressive dimensions and unmatched carrying capacity, this aircraft is more than just a logistical tool; it marks a significant turning point in the global energy transition, offering new opportunities to accelerate the production of renewable energy. A Solution to Wind Energy's Logistical Challenges Land-based wind energy is a crucial component of the energy transition, yet it faces a significant challenge: transporting its enormous components. Modern wind turbine blades can reach lengths of 230 feet, making their transportation by road or rail complex and costly. This is where the WindRunner comes into play. Designed to transport massive structures directly to production sites, even in the most remote areas, this aircraft allows for a more flexible and rapid installation of wind farms. With its colossal dimensions, the WindRunner redefines air transport capabilities. By expanding the possibilities for wind turbine location, it actively contributes to enhancing their energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. This logistical innovation could very well transform the future of renewable energy, making previously untapped sites accessible. 'China Builds 40-Story Giants': These Gravity Batteries Could Crush Lithium's Dominance and Trigger a Global Energy Power Shift Radia: A Leader in Aeronautical Innovation Since its establishment in 2016 by Mark Lundstrom, Radia has become a key player in aeronautical innovation. By developing the WindRunner, the company demonstrates a profound understanding of the challenges of the energy transition. By tackling logistical barriers, Radia offers a viable and innovative solution to accelerate the adoption of renewable energies. Beyond technical ingenuity, Radia's success is built on strategic partnerships and solid financial backing. With nearly $110 million raised, the company has attracted renowned investors and partners, such as LS Power and ConocoPhillips. These collaborations ensure the project's feasibility and strengthen Radia's position as a leader in the green aviation sector. 'NASA Eyes Game-Changing Breakthrough': These Sodium-Air Fuel Cells Could Soon Power Full-Size Passenger Jets Across Continents The Technical Specifics of the WindRunner The WindRunner stands out due to its exceptional technical characteristics, designed to meet the specific needs of land wind turbine transportation. With a fuselage length of 354 feet and a volumetric load capacity of approximately 290,000 cubic feet, it surpasses traditional cargo planes. Capable of operating on runways as short as 5,900 feet, it can access remote areas that are otherwise unreachable by other freight aircraft. This technical innovation is the result of meticulous design that combines robustness with flexibility. By facilitating the transport of large-scale wind turbines, the WindRunner helps optimize their energy efficiency, a major asset in the fight against climate change. It also opens new avenues for the expansion of land wind infrastructure. 'I Built a Laser from Hell': YouTuber Unleashes World's Strongest Handheld Beam That Instantly Melts Metal and Ignites Anything A Major Impact on the Global Energy Transition The WindRunner emerges at a crucial moment for the global energy transition. By facilitating the installation of wind turbines in remote areas, it plays a key role in optimizing wind resources and reducing carbon emissions. According to the International Energy Agency, land wind energy could account for up to 40% of global energy production by 2050. The WindRunner could be an essential catalyst in achieving this goal. By making wind energy more accessible and efficient, the WindRunner significantly contributes to the decarbonization of the energy sector. It represents a major advancement in the fight against climate change, offering a pragmatic and innovative solution to current energy challenges. The WindRunner, with its colossal dimensions and impressive capabilities, not only redefines air transport standards but also opens new prospects for the future of land wind energy. By facilitating the transport and installation of large-scale wind turbines, this aircraft helps make wind energy more accessible and efficient, playing a crucial role in the global energy transition. As the world shifts towards a more sustainable economy, what other groundbreaking innovations might emerge to support this movement? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.4/5 (29)
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Decoded: The 15-day towel bite challenge that promises a ‘slimmer' neck: ‘For a sharper jawline…'
Social media introduces, rather overwhelms, us with a new hack with each scroll. So, after sharing some kitchen hacks with you, we have one that promises to give you a 'slimmer neck'. Blogger Pragya P demonstrated how the solution lies in biting a towel. 'For a sharper jawline, do this every day for 5-10 minutes,' Pragya claimed in an Instagram post. According to her, doing it for 15 days can help you see improvement. Dr Sheetal Radia, ENT and head neck surgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, said chewing on a towel to achieve a slim neck may sound promising and interesting but is not effective. 'No scientific research has backed up this hack to prove its effectiveness. It may not provide any real benefit for your neck altogether. While it may feel like you are doing a workout for your jaw, it does not particularly target the fat or muscles around your neck for satisfactory results,' said Dr Radia. Dr Maneendra, consultant and HOD, critical care department, Gleneagles Hospitals, Lakdi Ka Pul, Hyderabad, too, affirmed that this method has no scientific basis or evidence supporting its effectiveness. 'The neck's appearance is influenced by genetics, skin elasticity, fat distribution, and muscle tone, none of which can be permanently altered by a simple towel maneuver,' said Dr Maneendra. Repeated or aggressive manipulation might strain neck muscles or irritate the skin, leading to discomfort or minor injuries. 'Doing excessively or with forceful pressure may strain your jaw and cause severe pain and discomfort. It can further lead to extreme jaw pain or fatigue,' said Dr Radia. Dr Maneendra shared that targeted exercises, a balanced diet, and healthy hydration are recommended for individuals looking to tone the neck. 'Medical procedures like Botox or liposuction, offered under professional supervision, might be considered for more significant results,' said Dr Maneendra. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
The Sun
11-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
From ‘Skytanic' to bizarre ‘blended wing' jet – five astonishing planes of the future we could see by 2030
TECHNOLOGY is rapidly changing on the ground, in space and the sky in between. Here's a glimpse into the not-so-distant future of air travel. 7 7 7 7 'Skytanic' Soon to be the world's biggest plane, WindRunner, will be able to carry 12-times more than a Boeing 747. Dubbed "Skytanic", the airliner will take to the skies by 2030, almost a decade after the idea was put forward by aerospace firm Radia. It will be tasked with transporting enormous cargo. WindRunner will clock in at an incredible 356ft - longer than the pitch at Wembley - and will be 79ft tall. 'Blended wing' jet The world's first "blended-wing body" plane, dubbed the Z4, could someday replace older Boeing jets. The unique design was just backed by United Airlines, which has plans to purchase up to 200 of the swanky new planes. The 250-passenger Z4 plane, built by JetZero, has not yet been certified - but the company is hoping to launch it by 2030. Managing director of United Airlines Venture told Business Insider that the Z4's oversized wing could create a "living room in the sky". 7 Yunxing superplane A futuristic 'superplane' that could ferry passengers from London to New York City in just 90 minutes is hoped to be in the sky by 2027. The Chinese company, Space Transportation, behind the project is reportedly inching closer towards the production of the aircraft, called Yunxing. In October last year, the Beijing-based firm said that it successfully completed the first test flight for the prototype model. The jet could potentially reach the speed of Mach 4 (3,00mph) - twice as fast as the British Concorde. World's first private jet that can fly 9,000 miles non-stop to launch across US and Europe after breaking records 7 Globe trotter The Gulfstream G800 boasts a record-breaking range, allowing it to fly an incredible 9,000 miles without stopping. This globetrotting jumbo jet is set to launch across US and Europe, having secured FAA and EASA certifications. It's hoped it will be zooming across skies in 2030. Now the longest-range private aircraft in the world, the Gulfstream G800 can ferry passengers to almost anywhere in the world without taking a single stop. If the jet were to take off from London it could fly to any airport across the globe - with the exception of Sydney. It has three luxurious living areas for up to 19 passengers, as well as a dedicated crew compartment for maximum in-flight comfort. 7 Boom Overture The supersonic Overture jet is on track for a 2029 launch, according to the company behind the project. US-based Boom Technology has forecast a market for up to 1,000 supersonic airliners, across 500 viable routes, with fares comparable to business class. Overture aircraft could feasibly fly passengers from London to New York City in just 3.5 hours at supersonic speeds. The flight currently takes roughly 8 hours on a standard commercial carrier. Laying the groundwork for Overture, Boom's XB-1 jet successfully reached supersonic speeds earlier this year. Bosses at the Colorado -headquartered firm believe it will be the first US-built commercial supersonic jet to hit the market Supersonic and Hypersonic Jets There are several types of hypersonic and supersonic jets. A breakdown of what's been happening in the industry and what's expected in the coming years. Talon-A Built by Stratolaunch Reported speeds of Mach 5 The first test flight conducted in 2024 X-59 Quesst Built by Nasa and Lockheed Martin Predicted max speeds of Mach 1.4 The first test flight in 2024 - but subject to delays Venus Stargazer M4 Built by Venus Aerospace and Velontra Predicted max speeds of Mach 6 First test flight in 2025 Quarterhorse MKII Built by Hermeus Predicted max speeds of Mach 2.5 First test flight in 2026 Halcyon Built by Hermeus Predicted max speeds of Mach 5 First test flight by 2030 Nanqiang No 1 Built by China's hypersonic plane programme Predicted max speeds of Mach 6 First test flight in 2025 DART Built by Hypersonix Launch Systems Predicted max speeds of Mach 7 First test flight in 2025
