World's Largest Aircraft

 World's Largest Aircraft to Be Shown at Paris Air Show 2025

The Paris-Le Bourget Airport in the French capital will host this year's edition of the Paris Air Show. As usual, as one of the largest events of this kind in the world, it is expected to be filled with premieres of all shapes and sizes, but none of them seems to be as anticipated as that of the WindRunner. Radia Corporation will unveil the WindRunner aircraft at the Paris Air Show on 16 June, 2025, marking the first public appearance of what aviation experts now recognise as the world’s largest aircraft by length and volume. The WindRunner measures 356 feet from nose to tail. The WindRunner is likely to command unprecedented attention among industry professionals. The name was slapped not long ago on a cargo aircraft that's already being described as the world's largest in terms of length and volume. It measures 356 feet (108 meters) from nose to end, more than the legendary Antonov An-225 Mriya, which came in at 276 feet (84 meters), and features a cargo bay with a capacity of 7,700 cubic meters (271,922 cubic feet). Engineers designed the aircraft with a cargo bay capacity of 7,700 cubic meters, substantially larger than the Airbus BelugaXL’s 2,209 cubic meters. This massive cargo space positions the WindRunner as a game-changing solution for oversized freight transportation.

Earlier specs said the capacity would be a tad greater, 8,200 cubic meters (272,000 cubic feet), but even with the revised numbers that's still a lot more than what the Airbus BelugaXL is able to accommodate, which is 2,209 cubic meters (78,000 cubic feet) of cargo. The plane is in the works over at Radia, a company which was established about nine years ago. Radia Corporation, established by former MIT and Boeing professionals, originally conceived the WindRunner specifically for transporting 344-foot wind turbine blades. Initially, it was intended solely as a means of transportation for wind turbine blades 344 feet (105 meters) long, but in the meantime the larger aviation industry took note, and the WindRunner is now being eyed for satellite and armoured vehicle transport as well, as long as the cargo's total weight does not exceed 72.6 metric tons (72,575 kg/160,000 pounds). The aviation industry quickly recognised broader applications. Although we do know a thing or two about the plane's size and capabilities, its exact technical specifications are not known. We don't know, for instance, what kind of engines it will use, although we do know that there will be four of them, and that they should allow the aircraft to reach altitudes of 41,000 feet (almost 12,500 meters) and distances of 1,240 miles (1,996 km). The aircraft features a 261-foot wingspan and achieves speeds up to Mach 0.6 (460 mph). Despite limited public technical details, industry observers expect Radia to reveal engine specifications and additional performance metrics during the air show.

As the Paris Air Show in mid-June approaches, Radia saw fit to share the names of several companies that have been brought on board to develop the plane. There are five of them, and each will handle a different part of the plane. Spain-based Aciturri Aeronáutica, in the business of making composite aero structures, has been tasked with making the tail structure of the WindRunner. Brazilian Akaer Engenharia, on the other hand, will handle the pressurized cabin and key systems integration. Wisconsin-based Astronautics Corporation develops avionics systems, the UK’s Element Materials Technology manages fuel system integration, and California’s Ingenium Technologies creates the high-lift control system. When ready to fly (it's unclear yet when that will be), the WindRunner will come with a wingspan of 261 feet (80 meters), and it will have to use its quartet of engines to reach speeds of up to Mach 0.6 (460 mph/741 kph).

One interesting aspect of the plane is that, despite its gargantuan size, it will be able to take off and land from and on unprepared surfaces. This capability was born from the initial purpose of the plane, which would have had it transport wind turbine blades in remote locations. The WindRunner operates from unpaved runways measuring 1,800 meters, requiring no specialised ground infrastructure. This capability stems from its original wind turbine transportation mission in remote locations. Military and disaster response organisations recognise these operational advantages for accessing challenging environments. USTRANSCOM signed an agreement with Radia in May to evaluate the WindRunner’s military transportation potential. The partnership examines operational effectiveness for Department of Defence logistics requirements, cargo handling procedures and airfield compatibility across various mission profiles. This collaboration opens pathways for military applications beyond commercial use.

According to Radia, the WindRunner can go about its business from unpaved runways (read packed dirt surfaces) that are 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) long, and it does not require any other kind of specialized ground infrastructure. That makes it ideal for disaster response missions as well, but also for military use. The WindRunner’s debut signals a transformation in heavy cargo transportation. Aviation manufacturers study their design innovations while logistics companies evaluate operational possibilities. The aircraft addresses growing demand for transporting increasingly large components across industries, including renewable energy, aerospace and defence sectors. The Paris Air Show presentation, while not featuring a fully operational aircraft, demonstrated Radia’s commitment to revolutionising cargo aviation through unprecedented size and capability integration. It's unclear what form the WindRunner airplane Radia is taking to Paris will take, but we're most definitely not talking about a fully functional machine. Even so, and despite the fact that we'll probably not be dealing with a full-size version of the plane either, the sight of such a giant should be something to remember for the people who will be there. Such major aviation events are also the perfect place for major announcements, maybe we'll even learn the name of the company which will supply the engines for the WindRunner.