Aircraft, US Congress turns spotlight on Radia's WindRunner
Procedure started that could lead to funding by the US Congress
by Vera Viola
The multinational Radia's project to build the largest cargo aircraft (WindRunner) ever manufactured and to build it in Italia, between Campania, Puglia and Calabria, takes a step forward. In the last few days, the US Congress has included in the National Defense Authorization Act the recognition of the large cargo plane project, considering it fundamental for creating security and responding to the need for exceptional transport. An apparently merely formal step to which, however, much importance is attached for the practical spin-offs that it will be able to produce in order to be able to produce the aircraft to be used for large cargoes and, above all, for transporting wind blades.
By including the project in the NDAA, the US Congress is asking the Pentagon to identify the best design solutions together with industry. The answer is expected in April and, if positive, Congress may provide funding for a number of projects, including the one Radia is developing.
The American company's plan is estimated to involve investments of around 3 billionù, which the company aims to raise from various sources. "We think _ explains Giuseppe Giordo, president and CEO of Radia Italia _ that public and private funds will be needed, as was the case for SpaceX. And we need resources allocated from America as well as Europe and Italia'. For Giordo, therefore, recognition by the US Congress and possible US funding could give the 'La' to a more concrete phase of finding resources and then moving on to implementation. 'The American measure _ summarises the CEO and former Finmeccanica aeronautics executive, who heads Alenia Aermacchi _ can have three consequences: US funding, a push to private investors and a strong push to European and especially Italian institutions to enable the project to be implemented'.
Meanwhile, for months Radia has also been working on the European and especially the Italia front. Holding meetings with the new governors of Puglia, Antonio Decaro, and Campania, Roberto Fico. There have also been meetings with the Ministry of Industry and Made in Italy and with the Single Zes for Southern Italy. 'We are proceeding step by step _ continues Giordo _ to sensitise all the players that need to be involved. It would be important for a united front between the regions and the national government in Italia'. In the meantime, Giordo does not hide his concern if the timeframe should still be long.
In fact, the first flight is scheduled to take place in 2029 and in 2030, according to plans, the first aircraft should be delivered. The WindRunner will be twelve times larger than the Boeing 747, and will be able to land on unpaved runways. The main suppliers, including Leonardo and Magnaghi, have been chosen. The fuselage and undercarriage will be produced in Campania, while for wings and tail the focus will be on Spain. Assembly will take place in Grottaglie in Puglia.
