Astronautics To Develop Avionics For Radia’s Ultralarge WindRunner

Astronautics has been selected to supply the complete avionics system for U.S. startup Radia’s planned WindRunner ultralarge cargo aircraft.

The system will be developed by the company’s new dedicated systems solution business.

With a length of 356 ft. and wingspan of 261 ft., the WindRunner would be the world’s largest aircraft with 12 times the cargo volume of a Boeing 747 freighter and the ability to operate from short and unprepared runways.

Radia is developing the WindRunner to transport the largest wind turbine blades direct to land-based wind farms, but the company plans to also offer the aircraft for the broader civil and military outsize cargo markets. The aircraft is planned to enter service before the end of the decade.

Astronautics has experience in modernizing Lockheed Martin C-130/L-100 transports operated by Brazil, Peru and Saudi Arabia. It is also currently finishing two programs to provide complete avionics systems: an Enaer Pillan II trainer under development for the Chilean air force and a cockpit upgrade for the Erickson S-64 Air Crane helicopter.

The avionics system for the S-64 includes Astronautics’ Badger Pro+ Gen 2.0 6 x 8-in. multifunction displays (MFD), engine data concentrator unit and AeroSync Mission connectivity module, along with system integration testing and functional verification.  The Badger Pro+ Gen 2.0 MFDs are also at the core of the avionics system developed for the Pillan II.

The company’s new system solutions business will focus on delivering turnkey, integrated solutions developed using avionics from Astronautics, its subsidiaries and other suppliers. “Given the steady increase in our orderbook of systems programs, now is the right time to formalize a system solutions unit and bring Astronautics back into the systems business,” Robert Atac, Astronautics president, said in a statement.