Windracers establishes operational hub in Malawi to demonstrate humanitarian air cargo missions
LONDON (UK) – June 27, 2025 – Windracers, the UK-based designer, manufacturer and operator of Windracers ULTRA™, an autonomous heavy-lift cargo aircraft, has begun establishing an operational base at Kasungu Airfield in Malawi.
The operational base, in Central Region of Malawi, features a newly created aircraft hangar and will serve as the hub for demonstrating the delivery of humanitarian aid across the area using Windracers ULTRA – the world’s most accomplished long-distance heavily-lift UAV available today.
Working closely with the Malawi Civil Aviation Authority and the Department of Meteorological Services, the base will provide a real-world testbed for the delivery and dropping by parachute capabilities of Windracers ULTRA, a rugged 10m wing-span aircraft with integrated proprietary autopilot systems and mission control software.
Stephen Wright, Founder and Group Executive Chairman of Windracers, said: “We developed ULTRA with the idea of providing low-cost means of delivering humanitarian aid to hard-to-reach locations for people who need help the most. Flights from Kasungu will support a range of humanitarian and development use cases, including medical logistics, environmental monitoring, and disaster response. We’re very grateful to our partners in Malawi for helping bring this to life.”
At the heart of this phase is Windracers ULTRA MK2 – a heavy-lift long distance self-flying cargo aircraft capable of transporting a useful load of up to 150 kg with a range of up to 1,000 km. The Windracers platform is dual-use, multi-mission and offers an optional 3-door drop bay floor to safely and accurately parachute aid and supplies if required. In the coming weeks, and thanks to cold chain innovation, it will undergo trials focused on the delivery of vaccines and other temperature-sensitive medical supplies across remote areas.
A new video on the latest developments captures the construction of the new hangar that will house Windracers ULTRA.
Windracers ULTRA has a useful load of up to 150kg and a range of up to 1,000 km. It has flown reconnaissance and resupply missions in Ukraine, conducted geological and wildlife surveys in Antarctica, and delivered parcels to remote locations off the Scottish and English coasts. It has also supported wildfire operations and dropped medical supplies by parachute.
Available as a service or for purchase, the Windracers ULTRA is a multi-mission aircraft that has already proven itself in some of the world’s toughest conditions. It is ready to support a wide range of missions wherever they are needed.
For all media enquiries, please contact: Thomas Boorman, Windracers tboorman@windracers.com +44 748 085 0801