Windracers, the company behind the innovative self-flying cargo aircraft ULTRATM, has announced a significant partnership with NORCE, an independent scientific research institute based in Norway. The agreement involves the delivery of two Windracers ULTRA aircraft, which will play a crucial role in scientific survey missions in the challenging environment of Antarctica.
These aircraft will be integrated into the Troll Observing Network (TONe), a state-of-the-art research initiative established around the Norwegian research station Troll in Dronning Maud Land. TONe is a multi-platform and multi-disciplinary observation network that will gather data on the diverse physical, biological, chemical, and geological processes occurring in this data-poor region of Antarctica. This valuable information will be essential for understanding the complexities of the Antarctic environment and contributing to global research efforts.
The decision to employ Windracers ULTRA aircraft for this mission was driven by their unique capabilities and proven track record. The ULTRA’s multi-mission capacity and successful deployment during an Antarctic mission in January 2024 highlight its suitability for the demanding conditions of this region. Simon Muderack, CEO of Windracers, emphasized the global significance of the mission: “NORCE will employ two Windracers ULTRAs to help carry out a critical environmental mission of global importance, namely, to gain a comprehensive knowledge of the physical, biological, chemical and geological processes taking place now in Antarctica.”
Rune Storvold, Senior Vice President of Observing Systems at NORCE, further explained the advantages of choosing Windracers ULTRA: “One of the reasons why NORCE has chosen Windracers ULTRA is because of its proven ability to complete missions in the extreme conditions of Antarctica. This is a part of a 200 million pound (GBP) upgrade with a new research station at Troll, renewable energy system and with eight science observatories and a drone service based on the Windracers ULTRA aircraft that allow us to carry a comprehensive optical and radar payload and cover the region from the nearby ocean to the Antarctic Plateau.”
Windracers ULTRA, designed for operations in extreme environments like the Arctic and Antarctic, is a heavy-lift, long-distance self-flying cargo aircraft. It boasts a payload capacity of up to 100kg and a range of up to 1,000km. The aircraft’s autonomous capabilities were demonstrated during its previous deployment in Antarctica, where it successfully completed 25 scientific survey flights covering a distance of 3,000km beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) through the use of satellite communications.
This collaboration between Windracers and NORCE represents a significant step towards enhancing our understanding of the Antarctic environment and its role in global climate systems. The deployment of Windracers ULTRA aircraft will undoubtedly contribute to valuable scientific discoveries and strengthen Norway’s Antarctic research and monitoring capabilities, providing essential data for both national and international research communities.
