University of Alaska Fairbanks Acquires Windracers ULTRAs for Testing Resupply Delivery
Windracers, a leader in innovative low-cost autonomous cargo aircraft, has announced its contract with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) to provide two Windracers ULTRA MK1 drones. These aircraft will be utilized to establish best practices for delivering supplies to remote Alaskan communities. This initiative will be conducted in collaboration with the Alaska Center for UAS Integration (ACUASI), a premier drone research program in the United States, fostering research, education, and the arts focused on the circumpolar North.
“Air cargo delivery for resupplying remote communities is essential for life in Alaska, which is why we chose Windracers ULTRA for further testing,” stated ACUASI Director Cathy Cahill. “The UAVs we need must be capable of covering long distances, carrying emergency supplies safely and reliably. Our vision is to facilitate an environment where UAVs, including self-flying cargo aircraft, are commonplace across Alaska and beyond.”
Simon Muderack, the CEO of Windracers, expressed confidence that their aircraft would effectively support ACUASI’s missions. “Windracers is immensely proud that UAF has selected ULTRA to fulfill their air cargo delivery needs, especially in challenging weather conditions and at lower costs for isolated communities,” Muderack remarked.
“The Windracers ULTRA is ideally designed for ACUASI’s diverse missions, drawing from its Antarctic mission experience in January 2024,” he added. “We look forward to strengthening our partnership with UAF and ACUASI to aid in supplying remote communities in Alaska.”
With a capacity of over 100kg and a range reaching up to 1,000 km, the Windracers ULTRA drone is recognized as the top long-range heavy-lift drone available today. This versatile aircraft serves both civilian and defense applications, having successfully completed numerous beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) missions for various operation types, including troop resupply and aerial reconnaissance in Ukraine, ecological and wildlife surveys in the Antarctic, parcel deliveries to islands off the Scottish and English coasts, and medical supply parachute resupply missions in Africa.
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