Windracers says its ULTRA autonomous cargo aircraft has completed the first beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight in Indiana’s newly established drone corridor, covering more than 50 miles during a test intended to demonstrate long-distance operation without a ground-based operator maintaining direct visual contact.
The flight took place on October 29 during the opening of the Midwest UAS Test Site of Indiana at Terre Haute Regional Airport. Windracers announced the milestone on November 2. The company said the aircraft operated within a corridor extending across more than 200 miles of airspace, making the event a significant test of large autonomous aircraft in a U.S. operating environment.
A test site for autonomous aircraft
The opening ceremony was attended by Indiana Governor Mike Braun, U.S. Senator Todd Young and U.S. House Representative Mark Messmer, according to Windracers. Those officials also witnessed a demonstration of the ULTRA’s autonomous parachute-based resupply capability.
Windracers describes the ULTRA as a dual-use, heavy-lift autonomous cargo aircraft. Its aluminum airframe has a 33-foot (10-meter) wingspan, while its proprietary flight-control system is designed to manage autonomous operations. The aircraft has a three-bay cargo-drop configuration capable of carrying more than 330 pounds (150 kilograms) of useful payload.
| Aircraft | Operator and partners | Flight and payload details |
|---|---|---|
| Windracers ULTRA | Purdue University, Windracers and AIDA3 | More than 50 miles of BVLOS flight; more than 330 pounds (150 kilograms) of useful payload |
Purdue’s planned emergency-response work
Purdue University owns the aircraft and is working with Windracers through its Center on AI for Digital, Autonomous and Augmented Aviation, known as AIDA3. The university intends to use the ULTRA for testing and evaluation connected to Indiana-specific applications, including the delivery of emergency supplies by parachute to communities affected by seasonal flooding.
The aircraft’s cargo arrangement allows supplies to be released while it is in flight. Windracers identified logistics, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and defense as potential application areas. The Indiana demonstration combined that resupply function with a BVLOS flight in a designated testing environment, bringing together the aircraft’s autonomous control and cargo-delivery capabilities.
- The test flight covered more than 50 miles inside the Indiana Drone Corridor.
- The corridor contains more than 200 miles of airspace.
- The ULTRA can carry more than 330 pounds (150 kilograms) of useful payload, according to Windracers.
The flight was conducted during the formal opening of the Midwest UAS Test Site of Indiana, rather than as a commercial delivery operation. The event therefore marks a test milestone for autonomous and BVLOS aviation in the United States; the announcement does not describe a commercial launch or an ongoing delivery service.
