World tour

Wings for Aid started its world tour in Curaçao. Due to the corona virus, the trip to Senegal and Panama had to be postponed. The aim is to demonstrate to authorities and aid organisations what the aircraft is capable of: dropping six cardboard boxes over disaster areas, which can land without a parachute at GPS locations. The contents are up to 20 kilograms or 70 litres per box and can include blankets, water, medicines and the like. In the future, Wings for Aid plans to fly 5-10 (un)manned aircraft over disaster areas on behalf of the United Nations or Red Cross. The planes will have a range of 500 kilometres and can fly several sorties a day.

Enthusiastic

Twente Airport director Meiltje de Groot is enthusiastic about the arrival of Wings for Aid: ‘It fits perfectly with the space and facilities we have here at Twente Airport and Technology Base for testing and flying. Moreover, the humanitarian objective of Wings for Aid is very sympathetic.’ Wings for Aid general manager Barry Koperberg is also happy: ‘We feel very welcome in Twente. Our partners University of Twente and PUCA are close by. Who knows, we might also do drone trials here in the future.’

More information: www.twente-airport.nl and www.wingsforaid.org