At an exclusive event held in London yesterday (January 16), Windracers unveiled its next generation of self-flying cargo aircraft, the Windracers Ultra (unmanned low cost transport aircraft) MK2 that aims to transform middle-mile logistics.
According to Windracers, the MK2 offers double the power and a 50% increase in useful payload compared to its predecessor, as well as a significant reduction in fuel costs.
“The launch of Ultra MK2 is proof that Windracers has moved rapidly from an idea to a commercial organization that is meeting the needs of customers today,” commented Windracers founder and group executive chairman Stephen Wright.
“I am so proud of the Windracers team who have performed phenomenally to bring Ultra MK2 to market in a very short time period and for Ultra development over the last eight years. I know the team shares my excitement as we see the operational impact of Ultra MK2 for our customers to help people around the world.”
Simon Thompson, group CEO of Windracers, added, “From eliminating the need for a pilot to developing a multi-mission platform that is dependable and easy to use and maintain, our ultimate goal is to bring down the cost for the end user. In Ultra MK2, we have halved our operational fuel cost per kilogram and we will find even more efficiency in the future for our customers.”
Windracers Ultra MK2 can take-off, fly and land safely without the need for a remote pilot and with minimal ground operator oversight, whether day, night or in fog. Ultra MK2 is controlled by its proprietary autopilot system, Windracers Autopilot, a multi-layered flight control system that is robust against flight control unit failures and sensor failures. Ultra MK2 includes Windracers Mission Control, a route planning and aircraft monitoring system with an intuitive interface that requires minimal training.
The Ultra MK2 self-flying cargo aircraft has a robust 10m-wingspan and two 50hp Hirth F23 engines, doubling the power output of its predecessor. Ultra MK2 provides an enhanced useful payload of 150kg while halving fuel costs per kilogram, making it ideal for numerous practical applications spanning mail and parcel, humanitarian assistance, defense, medical and environmental protection.
The Windracers Ultra MK2 will be used by Aviation Sans Frontieres for humanitarian aid efforts in Africa while the original Ultra aircraft is used for mail deliveries in the remote Scottish islands and the Isles of Scilly by Royal Mail.