edited by Gianluca Gervasoni
Only a giant of the skies could try to challenge him, the Soviet Antonov An-225 Mriya which was destroyed during the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. In fact, it had an even larger wingspan, itself surpassed by the’H4-Hercules and the Stratolaunch. Yet, if we talk about length, what the American energy development company Radia is officially the world's largest cargo plane. The design remains at home in the USA, but the construction and production process will largely pass through a location that is increasingly synonymous with aviation and aerospace: Grottaglie, Puglia.
It already has a name, WindRunner, the aircraft that will carry the wind. This is because its main task will be to transport the huge wind turbines of the future, up to 100m long, needed to build new “wind farms” around the world. It will be 108m long and a dozen times larger than the Boeing 747, with the first take-off scheduled for 2029. Four powerful turbofan engines will support the 80m wingspan behemoth and allow it to travel at an altitude of 41,000 feet at a cruising speed of 735km/h. Even more remarkable, he will not need an asphalted airstrip: he can land almost anywhere, on semi-prepared dirt roads just under 2 km long.
Radia chose the Apulians Leonardo Spa And Magnaghi Aeronautica Spa as main suppliers. Also in Grottaglie, the aircraft will in fact be assembled in a factory built for the occasion, which will guarantee several hundred new jobs. Ideally, the WindRunner will be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FIA) and the’ENAC, so they can operate anywhere in full compliance with current regulations.
Why the Windrunner is an adventure to be told
With a project of this magnitude, every experimental flight, every fuselage that takes shape, becomes a page of history. This is not just about aeronautics, but a new pact between technology, employment, sustainability and territory. In this case, we are talking about made-in-Italy workers who will once again put their know-how at the service of excellence and sign a new aviation prodigy, destined to rewrite the records known until now.
Grottaglie lights up, Italy looks to the sky. And it is here, among the warehouses and dreams of a greener and more connected aerospace, that the Windrunner is already beginning to fly over our future.
