(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 20 - The CEO and founder of the
Colorado-based energy startup Radia, Mark Lundstrom, has told
ANSA he is very happy about a partnership with Italy's Magnaghi
Aerospace and defence giant Leonardo.
"We are enthusiastic and happy about this partnership with
Magnaghi Aerospace, which will widen our network of providers in
Italy, together with Leonardo", Lundstrom said from his
company's headquarters in Boulder, speaking about the
involvement of Magnaghi Aerospace in the construction of
WindRunner, a huge aircraft whose mission will be to deliver
gigantic blades directly to wind farms.
The Italian company will build the landing gear of the plane,
which is planned to land on shorter runways.
The 108-meter-long WindRunner will have four engines, an
altitude of 24 metres and an autonomy of 2,000 kilometres.
"Over 100" WindRunner planes will be produced by Radia in a
"significant investment" said Lundstrom.
"So far, we have raised funds for over 109 million dollars and
as the project moves froward more resources will be raised",
said Lundstrom.
The project has been in the works for eight years and flying
tests will begin "in a few years" while the plane "will be
operational by the end of the decade", said the CEO of Radia.
(ANSA).