Simon Thompson has joined Windracers Group (https://windracers.com/), the low-cost platform for autonomous air transport, in a brand new function as Group Chief Government Officer. He’ll initially give attention to product R&D, fundraising & world progress of the corporate.
Windracers was based in 2017 with a transparent mission of utilizing self-flying low-cost drones to ship humanitarian support to distant communities. The imaginative and prescient of bringing prosperity to those who want it lives on right this moment.
Its ULTRA UAV – a strong, twin-engine fixed-wing plane with a 10-metre wingspan – can take off, fly and land safely with out the necessity of a distant pilot because of its proprietary Masterless autopilot system. The multi-purpose drone can carry 100 kg as much as 1000 km, with purposes starting from the supply of parcels and medical provides to humanitarian support and the detection of forest fires.
Simon Thompson, incoming Group CEO of Windracers, stated: “I’m delighted to be becoming a member of this cutting-edge British expertise enterprise based mostly in Southampton. Windracers is the low-cost champion of autonomous aviation and we are actually very nicely positioned to take this functionality world. There’s a lot to do, however the current work with the Royal Navy and British Antarctic Survey are a transparent demonstration of the corporate’s nice potential to profit many enterprise sectors around the globe.”
Stephen Wright, Founder & Government Chairman of Windracers added “We’re targeted on making self-flying plane inexpensive, reliable and an on a regular basis actuality. Simon’s background in constructing buyer benefiting expertise, deep logistics experience and expertise as a FTSE CEO can be invaluable in supporting our mission of taking Windracers’ autonomous drone platform world.”
Simon’s digital experience constructed at firms reminiscent of Apple & lastminute.com mixed together with his deep logistics experience from Ocado PLC & Royal Mail will present invaluable perception to an already gifted crew.
Windracers lately expanded into North America, launching the world’s first AI middle targeted on autonomous aviation with the esteemed Purdue College in Indiana. The middle, named AIDA3, is aimed toward realizing the total transformational potential of uncrewed aerial automobiles (UAVs) and associated applied sciences by guaranteeing self-flying plane could be operated effectively and at scale. The corporate’s ULTRA UAV has accomplished its first flights in america with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval.
Windracers offers options throughout 5 sectors: Mail & Parcel, Humanitarian Help, Medical, Defence and Environmental Safety. It has already accomplished profitable flight trials with Royal Mail, Royal Navy, MOD, British Antarctic Survey and Future Flight problem for UK Analysis and Innovation (UKRI).
