French company Flying Whales is creating an airship that can pickup and drop cargo without landing — see how

Brittany ChangSep 6, 2020, 17:51 IST

Flying Whales' LCA60T aircraft in the woods.Flying Whales

France-based Flying Whales is developing an environmentally friendly cargo transport aircraft with commercial production posied to begin in 2025.
The LCA60T airship can off-load its up to 66-ton payload mid-air.
Because the LCA60T is a VTOL, it won't require any extra infrastructure to operate, allowing it to serve more remote locations without harming the environment.

Flying Whales is producing a blimp-like aircraft that can transport and drop off cargo mid-flight.

Several components of the cargo transport airship are made to be environmentally friendly, such as its floating capabilities powered by helium, hybrid-electric propulsion system, and lack of need for extra infrastructure during take-offs and landings.

But don't get confused by its oblong shape and helium-powered floating capabilities: the LCA60T is rigid and can't be "deflated", setting it apart from the traditional blimp despite its exterior appearance.

The aircraft was originally designed to transport wood logs around inaccessible areas by creating an airship that didn't need infrastructure support. However, the France-based team quickly pivoted to a larger, less targeted client base, the team told Business Insider.

"We realized that this solution could be used in a lot of other sectors, so the [later] goal was not to make something that was only able to work for wood transport," Romain Schalck, marketing manager for Flying Whales, told Business Insider. "But we wanted to start with something because it's, generally speaking, easier to start designing something to answer a specific market."

In terms of other iterations, Flying Whales is currently working with both state and private financial supporters and clients across various industries in Europe, Asia, and Canada, with plans to eventually expand to the US as the team grows in the future.

As of right now, one of the company's biggest investors is the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The same year AVIC first called Flying Whales (2017), the company also received an investment from the French state of around $29.5 million, according to Schalck.

Flying Whales' LCA60T aircraft in the woods. Flying Whale

As of right now, one of the company's biggest investors is the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The same year AVIC first called Flying Whales (2017), the company also received an investment from the French state of around $29.5 million, according to Schalck.

Flying Whales plans to build its first factory in France in the coming year with the goal of having the first LCA60T in the air by 2024.

Flying Whales' LCA60T aircraft in the woods. Flying Whale

As of now, the price of the aircraft is confidential, but according to the Flying Whales team, its tag is closer to that of a helicopter than a plane.

Flying Whales' LCA60T aircraft carrying several wind blades. Flying Whale

The rigidity of the structure that sets the LCA60T apart from a blimp is its "multilayer envelope technology," which uses several thin layers of textile fabric panels — similar to that of an inflatable boat — over the actual structure, according to Schalck.

Flying Whales' LCA60T carrying part of a pipeline. Flying Whale

The rigidity of the structure that sets the LCA60T apart from a blimp is its "multilayer envelope technology," which uses several thin layers of textile fabric panels — similar to that of an inflatable boat — over the actual structure, according to Schalck.

The airship can also load and remove cargo while hovering, which is done by employing winches that are controlled by a "loadmaster."

Flying Whales' LCA60T aircraft carrying an electrical tower. Flying Whale

The LCA60T has vertical take-off and landing capabilities, which means additional infrastructures like runways won't be needed just to operate the aircraft.

Flying Whales' LCA60T aircraft in the desert. Flying Whale

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French company Flying Whales is creating an airship that can pickup and drop cargo without landing — see how

As of right now, one of the company's biggest investors is the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The same year AVIC first called Flying Whales (2017), the company also received an investment from the French state of around $29.5 million, according to Schalck.

Flying Whales plans to build its first factory in France in the coming year with the goal of having the first LCA60T in the air by 2024.

As of now, the price of the aircraft is confidential, but according to the Flying Whales team, its tag is closer to that of a helicopter than a plane.

The rigidity of the structure that sets the LCA60T apart from a blimp is its "multilayer envelope technology," which uses several thin layers of textile fabric panels — similar to that of an inflatable boat — over the actual structure, according to Schalck.

The airship can also load and remove cargo while hovering, which is done by employing winches that are controlled by a "loadmaster."

The LCA60T has vertical take-off and landing capabilities, which means additional infrastructures like runways won't be needed just to operate the aircraft.