Magnaghi, Leonardo partner for giant plane - Lundstrom

(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).