I'm asking here because I know there are members who are aircraft enthusiasts and a few who have a lot of practical experience and knowledge. I stumbled across a note about this huge aircraft online and keyed the link to the company's site. Very impressive info about size and capabilities, but, for the life of me, I couldn't tell whether this plane really exists or is in little more than the pipe-dream stage. Any body got any definitve info?
Radia Windrunner Aircraft
- Thread starter erikpolcrack
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According the the web it is being manufactured in Colorado and Uncle Sam is interested.
LVSteve
Member
Radia are an energy company that wants a plane big enough to transport huge wind turbines. Supposedly they are financing a design, but as of today, it's still vaporware.
What I don't get is what do they plan to do with a massive wind turbine when they land. It is still a bear to move. Somehow, I doubt they plan to parachute it in.
What I don't get is what do they plan to do with a massive wind turbine when they land. It is still a bear to move. Somehow, I doubt they plan to parachute it in.
LVSteve
Member
I suspect Uncle Sam will be disappointed. Oversize cargo kites (think Super Guppy, Airbus Beluga) typically have a fairly low weight payload compared to their size. If the USAF is thinking this is a tool for moving armored vehicles in big bites, I suspect they are mistaken.
Well, it has a weight capacity just under that of a C-17 but with the ability to land on unpaved airstrips, if the claims are true. I can see some utility in that.
Repeater
Member
It's in the design stages and, yes, I'm intrigued. What makes me wonder about it's feasibility is the fact that it's basically being designed as a single purpose aircraft...for transporting next generation wind turbine components. Great concept, but a single customer? Wind Turbine parts are designed to be light. VERY big, but as light as possible...My first thoughts are "What other cargo fits this criteria?" Can they get other customers and carry their cargo?
On the positive side, the designers are using existing technology and safety standards and conventional materials, components and fabrication techniques. I guess I'm more interested in seeing what design variations they can come up with so they don't wind up with all their eggs in one basket.
On the positive side, the designers are using existing technology and safety standards and conventional materials, components and fabrication techniques. I guess I'm more interested in seeing what design variations they can come up with so they don't wind up with all their eggs in one basket.
LVSteve
Member
Yep, and with a shorter runway, too. But they ain't making any more of them.
LVSteve
Member
Didn't know that, so looked it up. Wow, was it really 10 years ago they closed that line? Dang!
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