Windracers tests Ultra uncrewed aircraft in Scotland

Drone developer Windracers is conducting flight tests with its Ultra prototype on islands off the coast of Scotland to evaluate the feasibility of providing autonomous logistics support in remote areas. Windracer’s beyond-visual-line-of-sight trials in the Orkney islands off northern Scotland provide services to residents who depend on ferries and vans, and the company is looking to set up a permanent service next year, Windracers founder Stephen Wright told Cargo Facts . [caption id="attachment_57146844" align="alignright" width="1908"] The Ultra is conducting trials in the Orkney islands. (Courtesy/Windracers)[/caption] The Ultra can carry up to 220 lbs of payload over a distance of 620 miles at an average cruise speed of 80 miles per hour. Although the autonomous aircraft can reach a maximum altitude of 20,000 feet, it is expected to operate at 5,000 feet or below, according to Windracers. The United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority has reviewed and signed off on the Ultra, but Windracers has not yet initiated the full certification process. “We have gone for a lower level of certification at the moment as we try to persuade the regulators that, given we’re not carrying human beings, we shouldn’t really be going down the classic certification route,” Wright said. United Kingdom-based Windracers is using the Ultra to support the Royal Mail and the British Antarctic Survey. It is also collaborating with Purdue University to design a remote-control station from which one pilot can operate multiple Ultra aircraft, Wright said. Windracers and Purdue jointly announced in April the launch of the Center on Artificial Intelligence for Digital, Autonomous and Augmented Aviation, which will focus on innovating and implementing new technology that enables UAVs to operate safely in commercial airspace. In addition to Windracers, a growing number of drone developers are working to provide autonomous lift capacity in the middle-mile segment. These include: Aergility, which launched the Atlis in 2022; Dufour Aerospace, which launched its Aero2 in 2021; Elroy Air, which launched its Chaparral C1 in 2022; Natilus, which launched the Kona in 2022; and Moya, which launched its hybrid eVTOL in 2024. Register now for Cargo Facts' essential regional events for industry stakeholders: Cargo Facts LATAM 2025 on Feb. 10-11 at the Pullman Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport in Brazil; Cargo Facts Asia 2025 on March 24-26 at the W Shanghai in China; and Cargo Facts EMEA 2025 on May 6-8 at the Shangri-La Bosphorus in Turkey.

Windracers tests Ultra uncrewed aircraft in Scotland

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