Windracers, the British drone engineering and manufacturing company, has been recognised as a trusted partner by the UK Government and NATO as part of their plans to expand drone production and supply to Ukraine.
The announcement, published on GOV.UK, forms part of a major initiative that has seen more than 85,000 drones delivered to Ukraine in the past six months and £600 million invested to boost capability and supply across the UK’s defence industry.
Windracers ULTRA, a dual-use heavy-lift drone is among the platforms contributing to this growing industrial effort. Windracers CEO Simon Muderack said: “We welcome the government’s announcement and are proud to be part of the UK’s growing industrial base supporting defence and security.
“At Windracers, we’re scaling ULTRA production and advancing platform capabilities to meet complex mission demands. This recognition highlights the value of homegrown innovation and the importance of maintaining a strong sovereign supply chain.”
With operations expanding to deliver hundreds of Windracers ULTRA aircraft over the next two years, the company continues to strengthen its UK-based supply chain in line with government ambitions to boost domestic manufacturing and resilience.
“We are delivering a truly sovereign dual-use capability for the UK and the Government’s investment strengthens that effort,” said Windracers Founder and Chairman Stephen Wright.
“The benefits reach far beyond defence – right through to our local engineering partners, manufacturing specialists and the wider market. This support is creating a positive ripple across local communities and the economy.”
Windracers remains committed to advancing autonomous aviation and delivering systems that enhance the UK’s capability in this rapidly evolving area.
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Leading ornithologist finds no signs of disturbance among seabirds on Eday, Orkney
A study on seabird colonies conducted by ornithologist Dr. Roy Armstrong and ecologist Caitlin Henderson has found no signs of disturbance as a result of recent drone flights operated by Windracers to and from Eday in Orkney. The findings are significant given drone companies are looking to serve Scotland’s remote island communities, where numerous sensitive bird species are located.
Windracers, the UK-based self-flying cargo aircraft manufacturer, commissioned the seabird colony disturbance study alongside its recent drone delivery trial in Orkney, which saw Windracers ULTRA – a robust, twin-engine fixed-wing aircraft with a 10-metre wingspan – moving autonomously between the islands of Eday, Westray and North Ronaldsay in Orkney a number of times each week.
Ornithologist Dr. Roy Armstrong and ecologist Caitlin Henderson closely monitored a number of seabird colonies before, during and after drone flights over the Calf of Eday, an uninhabited island which supports 32 species of breeding birds and is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for its importance as a nesting area. This included the cormorant colony and nesting Fulmars, as well as a wider range of nesting seabirds around the cliffs to the North of the Calf of Eday – such as guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and gulls.
The study found that neither the auditory nor visual impact of the drone caused any adverse effect to the behaviour of any species during time of survey, although the taxiing drone appeared to attract foraging common gulls – a species known to follow agricultural machinery during hay cutting. The study did identify disturbances as a result of a passing sheep, some passers-by and a boat.
According to Dr. Armstrong, one of the country’s most experienced ornithologists with over 30 years of commercial experience including numerous bird surveys at and around UK airports, the observation that no species were disturbed by the drone flights is consistent with other observations of drone/bird interactions. This includes drone monitoring of gull breeding colonies in which breeding birds appear to be oblivious to the presence of the drone. The ornithologist also pointed out the noise levels produced by Windracers ULTRA are very low compared with commercial or military aircraft and would not be expected to produce an adverse impact.
“The trials clearly demonstrated that there was no disturbance effect observed at the chick rearing stage of a wide range of species. This is an important stage as disturbance has the potential to interfere with chick feeding and sheltering of chicks by adults during adverse weather condition,” said Dr. Armstrong
“In continual advancement and improvement of ULTRA, Windracers is keen to understand any potential impacts from our flights on bird colonies and other wildlife in the areas where we operate. The findings of this study will no doubt be of reassurance to Orkney residents as well as the birdwatching community around the world,” comments Rob Datson, Chief Operations Officer at Windracers.
The cargo delivery trial using Windracers ULTRA was part of the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) programme and was part-funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Flight Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK and the Economic and Social Research Council. Its aim is to demonstrate readiness to operate a commercial drone service that can transport meaningful payloads reliably, cost-effectively and sustainably for the benefit of communities in remote locations, such as the Highlands and Islands.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recently announced that SATE was among six projects that have been selected for trials to help safely integrate drones flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) of their operator into UK airspace. Consortium partner Highland and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) – which also collaborated with Nature Scot’s Species on the Edge and the RSPB to establish a safe nesting habitat for the endangered Little Tern bird at Islay Airport – will lead the project in conjunction with Windracers.
Windracers ULTRA – which has a useful payload capacity of up to 100 kg and can travel middle-mile distances of up to 1,000 km – is able to take off, fly and land safely without the need of a remote pilot thanks to its autopilot and mission control software. Its systems are dual or triple redundant to ensure it can fly safely in all conditions.
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Center on AI for Digital, Autonomous and Augmented Aviation (AIDA3) will serve as anchor for R&D and platform into US market for UK self-flying aircraft developer Windracers
Windracers ULTRA UAVs to be based at the same Purdue University Airport that served as the world-flight research home for legendary aviatrix Amelia Earhart
Windracers, the low cost platform for autonomous air transport, and Purdue University today launched the world’s first AI center focused on autonomous aviation. The pioneering Center on AI for Digital, Autonomous and Augmented Aviation (AIDA3) will deliver innovations aimed at realizing the full transformational potential of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and related technologies. The partnership will also serve as an anchor for R&D and a platform into the US market for Windracers.
Windracers was founded in 2017 and was originally conceived to bring down the cost of delivering humanitarian aid to remote communities in Africa. Its relentless focus on cost reduction has shaped everything from the design of the aircraft and its use of non-specialised parts, to the development of its proprietary autopilot system and its approach to manufacturing.
Its ULTRA UAV – a robust, twin-engine fixed-wing aircraft which measures 20 feet by 30 feet – is a multi-purpose ‘Jeep of the skies’ which offers high utilization and is easy to maintain. It can take off, fly and land safely without the need of a remote pilot thanks to its proprietary Masterless autopilot system. Its capabilities span Detect, Drop and Deliver, with applications ranging from the delivery of parcels and humanitarian aid to defense.
Designed for extreme environments, both the aircraft and the flight control system incorporate a high level of redundancy and the high-reliability nature of its platform has been proven – it has completed tens of thousands of kilometres of autonomous flights for the Royal Navy, UK Ministry of Defence and British Antarctic Survey among others.
With the launch of AIDA3, Windracers will collaborate closely with Purdue University – a renowned engineering school with deep ties to the US military – to ensure self-flying aircraft can be operated efficiently and at scale. AIDA3 will investigate artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models for autonomous transportation applications ranging from demand analytics and maintenance in commercial logistics to meteorological sensing and real-time weather prediction.
To support the R&D programming at AIDA3, Windracers will initially provide two of its ULTRA UAVs for regular real-world testing, based at the same Purdue University Airport that served as the world-flight research home for legendary aviatrix Amelia Earhart in the 1930s. The first two UAVs will be named Earhart and Armstrong (after Neil Armstrong, one of Purdue’s many storied alumni).
“We are enormously excited to launch this pioneering AI center with Purdue University, a highly respected academic institution whose alumni include the first and most recent humans to step on the moon. Our ambition is to take another giant leap and revolutionize the aviation industry so that it is low cost and fully automated,” said Stephen Wright, Founder and Executive Chairman at Windracers. “This unique collaboration will be the anchor of our R&D and will serve as a platform for the US, a large and dynamic market which is embracing the potential of autonomous aviation.”
AIDA3’s approach is what sets it apart. Existing AI/ML models are not sufficiently reliable to close the loop from data to actions in the real-world that is safe, trustworthy and scalable, said Sabine Brunswicker, AIDA3 director and Purdue professor of digital innovation and communication.
“Currently, it can take 10 people to operate one UAV. It is time for one operator to be able to coordinate 100 UAVs at the same time” she said. “Our mission is to go beyond current AI/ML models where the potential benefits of smarter UAVs can be fully realized globally. If AIDA is successful, its breakthroughs can truly transform society at scale.”
AIDA3 is the first major output of Purdue’s Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence (IPAI), whose purpose is to develop AI at the intersection of the virtual and physical worlds.
To learn more about AIDA3, go to https://www.purdue.edu/computes/aida3.
About Purdue
Purdue University is a public research institution with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top 4 in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, with 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 12 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap, including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the new Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, and Purdue Computes, at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives
About Windracers
Windracers making self-flying aircraft an everyday reality with a low cost and dependable platform that has been designed and built to scale. From eliminating the need for a pilot to developing a flexible platform that offers high utilization and is easy to use and maintain, its ultimate goal is to bring down the cost for the end user.
Powered by its autopilot technology Masterless
, Windracers’ ULTRA UAV delivers an autonomous solution from engines on to engines off. The robust and cost-effective ULTRA (Uncrewed Low-cost TRAnsport) platform can carry 100 kg up to 1,000 km and has Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capability. With a flexible payload, Windracers Group provides solutions across five sectors: Mail & Parcel, Humanitarian Assistance, Defense, Medical and Environmental Protection.
A team have arrived at Rothera Research Station, ready to start testing the new Windracers ULTRA autonomous drone in Antarctica. If successful, the new drone platform could represent a major addition to British Antarctic Survey’s scientific capability on the frozen continent – offering the potential to do more science at a lower cost, with a lower carbon footprint than traditional crewed aviation.
Designed for extreme environments like Antarctica, the Windracers ULTRA UAV (uncrewed aerial vehicle) is a fully autonomous, twin-engine, 10-metre fixed-winged aircraft, capable of carrying 100 kg of cargo or sensors up to 1000 km. Incorporating a high level of redundancy, the ULTRA can continue to fly even if one of the engines or components is damaged or fails, and has been designed to be fixed in the field with a minimal number of parts.
It can take off, fly and land safely with minimal ground operator oversight thanks to its sophisticated autopilot system Masterless, developed and patented by Distributed Avionics. Offering a lower-carbon impact than traditional crewed aviation, the ULTRA UAV stands to play a key role in BAS’ plans to reach net zero by 2040.
If implemented, the drones will be used as a primary tool for airborne scientific surveys, making the most of the flexible configuration available in the platform for a range of scientific instruments. As it stands, British Antarctic Survey undertakes much of its survey work with Twin Otter aircraft. While the Twin Otters operate under an intense logistics and science regime during the field season, the drones could enable dramatic increases in flight time and geographic coverage while yielding a reduction in CO2 emissions per flight hour of around 90%.
The lower cost and greater safety of flying UAV drones over long periods also makes it possible to collect new and higher-fidelity science data. Furthermore, multiple autonomous drones could be deployed as a single unified system using AI-driven SWARM technology.
Dr Tom Jordan, a geophysicist from British Antarctic Survey who specialises in airborne data collection, said:
“Demonstrating that UAVs can robustly and routinely collect an array of different data is really exciting for the future of Antarctic science.
Polar science urgently needs extensive new high-resolution datasets to understand the ways the Antarctic ice sheet is changing, and how this will impact communities around the world. This is our first step toward unlocking those logistical barriers.”
Airbourne surveys are used for a range of science disciplines relevant to polar climate science and ecology, including geology atmospheric, glaciology and the study of ocean ecosystems. Under this season’s testing phase, the Windracers ULTRA will be deployed to:
– survey protected environmentally sensitive areas and assess the marine food chain (krill) using cameras
– investigate tectonic structures with magnetic and gravity sensors
– assess glaciological structures using airborne radar
– test an atmospheric turbulence probe for studies of boundary layer processes coupling ocean and atmosphere
Tom Reed, Autopilot Technology Lead at Windracers Group and a member of the test team in Antarctica, said:
“Having spent the last eight weeks completing rigorous tests and training, we’re enormously excited to have made it to Antarctica. We very much hope to demonstrate that high endurance, high payload autonomous drones have a valuable role to play in the future of environmental research.
As a software engineer, I would not have predicted that my career would lead me to Rothera Research Station in Antarctica. It’s a genuine privilege and I feel humbled to have the opportunity to spend the next few weeks here working alongside an incredible team on some truly meaningful science projects.
The ground-breaking project is being funded by Innovate UK’s Future Flight 3 Challenge and is part of its pilot programme called ‘Protecting environments with uncrewed aerial vehicle swarms’, aimed at demonstrating how advanced drone technology can be used to gather environmental data in Antarctica.
‘Protecting environments with uncrewed aerial vehicle swarms’ has been funded by Innovate UK Future Flight 3 Challenge, and is a partnership between Windracers Limited, Distributed Avionics Limited, Helix Geospace, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, National Environmental Research Council British Antarctic Survey, University of Bristol, and The University of Sheffield.
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Windracers continues to grow and there has never been a better time to join us! We are looking for someone with a keen interest in flying UAVs a methodical mindset and an interest in regulation to recruit into our newly created role of UAV & Regulatory Operative. This dual role will sit on a day-to-day basis within the Operations Regulatory work stream.
In this exciting role you will split your time between flying our state-of-the-art UAVs across various flight locations combined with the chance to gain invaluable knowledge and experience of the aviation regulatory sector. We are looking for someone with a methodical, resilient, and tenacious mindset to join us in a role that ensures we can take off!
Within the regulatory aspect of this role you will work on a variety of projects that require engagement with authorities to sanction our flight operations, the use of airspace or electromagnetic spectrum. This role provides insight into the current regulatory environment to produce feasible Concepts of Operations, Risk Assessments, and associated regulatory applications.
This role requires a flexible approach to travel (home and abroad), work location, periods away from home, working hours and weekend working due to its operational fly requirements. Typically, 60% plus of this role will be out in the field. You will also have to satisfy relevant security and aviation vetting as required.
Responsibilities – UAV Operator
- Maintenance of a high level of technical knowledge.
- Pre-flight Planning – Conduct pre-flight checks to ensure the aircraft is in proper working condition.
- Flight Operations – Operate UAVs in strict accordance with Company procedures. Ensure compliance with airspace regulations and safety protocols.
- Data Collection – Document and report all issues and gather data as required by mission.
- Maintenance and Repairs – Perform routine maintenance on UAVs to ensure optimal performance. Troubleshoot and address technical issues or malfunctions promptly.
- Compliance and Regulations – Stay informed about and adhere to local, national, and international aviation regulations. Obtain necessary permits and approvals for flight operations in restricted areas.
- Communication – Coordinate with ground crews, project managers, and other team members to ensure seamless operations. Communicate with air traffic control when required.
- Documentation – Maintain accurate records of flight logs, maintenance activities, and incident reports.
- Training and Development – Stay updated on advancements in UAV technology and industry best practices – Participate in training programs to enhance skills and knowledge.
Responsibilities – Regulatory
- Regulatory Compliance: remain current with local, regional, an international regulations, guidelines and standards related to cargo drone operations.
- Develop and implement strategies to ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements.
- Engage with aviation stakeholders to develop methods of strategic separation to minimise operational disruption to other airspace users.
- Produce regulatory applications and documentation to support operations.
- Maintain and monitor the processing of regulatory applications.
- Advise the engineering team on standard requirements from the aviation authorities and collaborate to integrate new technology in commercial operations.
- Work with other industries and stakeholders on the future of regulatory standards and support the proposal of new regulations.
- Coordinate with the flight operations team to plan for future operations.
Qualification Requirements
Clean Driving Licence.
Right to work within the UK & ability to travel abroad EU and non-EU territories.
Vetting and security clearance (as required by role, location or client).
Preferred Skills And/or Knowledge
- Experience with specific UAV platforms and software.
- Prior manned or fixed-wing remote-controlled aircraft.
- Instructional experience.
- Background in aviation, engineering or related field.
- Experience in obtaining permits, licences, and certifications for aviation operations, preferably in the drone sector.
- Knowledge of local and international regulatory frameworks such as CAP722, CAP1616, and SORA framework.
- Experience working with EASA regulations.
- Previous experience in writing Operating Safety Cases.
- Understanding of airspace change processes and airspace regulations.
- Understanding of Air Traffic Management.
- Knowledge of communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) systems
This role is a full-time permanent position based on 37.5 hours per week worked Monday to Friday. There is a requirement to be able to support operational work that may fall outside of core business hours as well as possible weekend work.
In return, we offer 25 days holiday plus bank holidays combined with a competitive salary depending on experience.
Regrettably, we are not able to progress applications that may require skilled worker/ visa sponsorship.
Please submit a CV and cover letter outlining your suitability for this role clearly stating the job title within the subject of your application. Please do not submit multiple applications.
Applications close on 30 January 2024. Please note we intend to hold face-to-face interviews in Southampton on 19 February 2024 ready for a 02 April 2024 start date
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