This colossal aircraft, aptly named for its potential to soar through the skies like a veritable giant among planes, stands poised to revolutionise not only the transportation sector but also the renewable energy industry. Aerospace engineer Mark Lundstrom believes he has the key to revolutionising renewable energy: constructing the largest aeroplane in the world. With over seven years of collaboration with an engineering team, Lundstrom, an MIT-trained rocket scientist and Rhodes scholar, has spearheaded the design of the WindRunner—a colossal cargo plane aimed at transforming the renewable energy landscape.
Crafted by the skilled hands and creative minds at Radia, a Colorado-based energy company known for pushing the boundaries of innovation, the Windrunner is more than just an aircraft — it's a game-changer. With dimensions that defy imagination, this behemoth of the skies stretches an impressive 356 feet in length and towers to a height of 79 feet, boasting a wingspan that spans an awe-inspiring 261 feet. To put this into perspective, it's nearly as long as a regulation NFL football field and surpasses the world's longest passenger plane, the Boeing 747-8, by a staggering 106 feet.
Radia is placing its bets on the future demand for larger and more potent wind turbines. According to the latest research, the investment in onshore wind technology is projected to soar to $10 trillion by 2050. The upcoming GigaWind turbines, renowned for their immense power, boast significantly larger blades and are expected to yield profits two to three times greater than their present-day counterparts.
This story is from the April 2024 edition of Cruising Heights.
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This story is from the April 2024 edition of Cruising Heights.
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