Windracers, the pioneering producer of low-cost self-flying cargo planes, announced today its contract with an independent scientific research institute, headquartered in Norway, to supply two Windracers ULTRA aircraft for use in scientific survey missions in Antarctica.
NORCE has acquired Windracers ULTRAs to support TONe, a cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research community set to be established at the Norwegian Troll analysis station in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica – one of the most remote and data-scarce regions on Earth. Tone, in collaboration with Norwegian institutions, will enhance Norway’s Antarctic research capabilities, providing global researchers with access to high-quality observational data that can inform critical societal decisions and foster groundbreaking discoveries.
“NORCE is set to leverage two cutting-edge Windracers ULTRAs to support a groundbreaking environmental mission of global importance,” said Simon Muderack, CEO of Windracers. “The initiative aims to comprehensively chart the physical, organic, chemical and geological processes currently unfolding in Antarctica.”
“Windracers ULTRA is specially positioned to support NORCE in January 2024, leveraging its versatile capabilities and Antarctica-specific knowledge.” The entire Windracers team seems poised to forge a forward-thinking partnership with NORCE, striving to fulfill their shared vision of fostering a deeper comprehension of Antarctica.
Rune Storvold, Senior Vice President of Observing Techniques at NORCE, noted: “One key reason why NORCE has selected Windracers ULTRA is its proven capability to complete missions in extreme conditions found in Antarctica. This forms part of a 200 million pound (GBP) upgrade featuring a new research station at Troll, a renewable energy system and eight science observatories, as well as a drone service based on the Windracers ULTRA aircraft that enables us to carry a comprehensive optical and radar payload, covering the area from nearby ocean to the Antarctic Plateau.”
Operating at the forefront of polar research, NORCE excels in developing cutting-edge sensors and seamlessly integrating them into innovative platforms like Windracer’s ULTRA, enabling real-time data collection, analysis, dissemination, and visualization for unparalleled insight. The Windracers ULTRA is a cutting-edge, long-range autonomous cargo aircraft capable of carrying payloads of up to 100 kilograms over distances of approximately 1,000 kilometers. NORCE and Windracers ULTRA are set to return from their expedition to Antarctica after successfully completing 25 autonomous research flights over a distance of 3,000 kilometers beyond visual line of sight using satellite TV-based communication systems.
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