Wind turbine blade by air freight: why it does not work
No freighter in service today can carry a modern wind turbine blade: current onshore blades are around 80 m and longer, while the An-124 hold measures 36.5 m. The longest cargo ever flown were 42.1 m blades on the An-225, and that aircraft was destroyed in 2022.
Source: Nordex press release N163/6.X (6 Sep 2021) · Volga-Dnepr An-124 technical specification · Guinness World Records — longest cargo piece flown by aircraft · Antonov statement on the An-225 (Interfax-Ukraine, 24 Mar 2022)
The calculation
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pieces | 1 blade | Worked example (assumption, not a booking) |
| Length, onshore (Nordex N163) | ≈ 80 m | Nordex press release N163/6.X (6 Sep 2021) |
| Length, onshore (Nordex N175) | 85.7 m | Nordex N175/6.X product page |
| Length, offshore (Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222) | 108 m | Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 DD product page |
| Antonov An-124 hold length | 36.5 m | Volga-Dnepr An-124 technical specification |
| Longest cargo ever flown (An-225) | 42.1 m | Guinness World Records — longest cargo piece flown by aircraft |
Aircraft choice — and why not
Antonov An-124
Does not fitThe largest type in our aircraft library. Its hold is 36.5 m long — less than half an 80 m blade.
Source: Volga-Dnepr An-124 technical specification · Nordex press release N163/6.X (6 Sep 2021)
Antonov An-225
Does not fitFlew the record 42.1 m blades. The only completed aircraft was destroyed at Hostomel in 2022.
Source: Guinness World Records — longest cargo piece flown by aircraft · Antonov statement on the An-225 (Interfax-Ukraine, 24 Mar 2022)
Loading: hold against blade
The comparison is simple: 36.5 m of hold against 80 m, 85.7 m or 108 m of blade. No tilting, angle or ramp closes that gap.
Blades travel by road and sea. Air freight comes in when the turbine stands still and the part it needs is compact.
Source: Volga-Dnepr An-124 technical specification · Nordex press release N163/6.X (6 Sep 2021) · Nordex N175/6.X product page · Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 DD product page
What flies instead: drive-train components
When a turbine stops, the parts in question are usually gearbox, generator, main bearing or hub. They are compact, heavy and often outsize — and every day of standstill is a day without feed-in revenue. That is the charter case.
Weights vary strongly by turbine type and manufacturer, so we do not quote general figures. Send the manufacturer's piece data; we match it against hold dimensions, floor loading and door envelope of the candidate aircraft.
What drives the price
Positioning of the heavy-lift aircraft to the origin, standing time for loading with onboard cranes or external lifting, and handling at airports that accept the type.
Permits weigh heavily: outsize loads and special aircraft types often need overflight and landing permits arranged in advance.
Documents and requirements
- Heavy & oversized cargo
- Outsize and heavy air cargo
- Overflight and landing permits
- Customs & air waybill
Related industry page
Energy & project cargoQuestions
Can a wind turbine blade be transported by air?
Not a modern one. Current onshore blades are around 80 m and longer; the An-124 hold measures 36.5 m. The longest piece ever flown was 42.1 m, on the An-225, which no longer exists.
What was the longest cargo ever flown?
According to Guinness World Records, wind turbine blades of 42.1 m each, carried by an Antonov An-225.
Which wind turbine parts are flown?
Typically drive-train components such as gearbox, generator, main bearing or hub, when a turbine is standing still. Feasibility depends on the manufacturer's piece data.
Turbine at a standstill?
Send the component and its manufacturer data. No account needed; CCN is an independent broker.