Colorado-based energy company Radia revealed plans for the world’s largest airplane. Measuring 356 feet long and 79 feet tall, with a wingspan of 261 feet and a load capacity of 80 tons, cargo plane WindRunner will only require a runway as short as 6,000 feet. Nicknamed Skytanic, WindRunner is expected to be in operation in 2027.

Designed to transport large wind turbine blades measuring between 150–300 feet, WindRunner‘s capacity could spur development of even larger blades that can utilize faster wind speeds at higher altitudes to harness more energy. Experts estimate larger blades could cut energy costs by 35 percent

Loading blades into WindRunner © Radia

Transportation of the blades, even at the current size, is a challenge. The Windrunner would eliminate transportation obstacles such as overpasses and other limiting road conditions.

Additionally, WindRunner will eventually run on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel. This will eliminate the carbon footprint of current ground transportation.

While this is a significant development for all those reasons, I wonder about other possible implications. Already discussed is the possibility of carrying military equipment.

What might it mean for passenger flights? There really isn’t a need to greatly increase seating capacity on planes, but could the technology lead to roomier planes without increasing costs to either the airline or passenger? Could it also be used to increase amenities on luxury planes?

© Radia

Launched in 2016, Radia has kept a tight lid on WindRunner. With the plans revealed, the aviation world is buzzing.

— John Wroblewski, online writer