Flying Whales, a French-Canadian company, aims to push through in developing the LCA60T, the largest cargo airship in the world. At about 656 feet long, it plans to revolutionize cargo transport, especially in remote areas. Using its helium lifting tech, the LCA60T will be able to transport up to 60 tons of cargo. Designed for both vertical take-offs and landings, the vehicle will transport a variety of cargo for diverse practical uses. Additionally, it plans to focus on sustainability, by combining eco-design and lifecycle efficiency to minimize carbon dioxide emissions. But despite all of these positive attributes, Flying Whales may need to form a collaboration in order to make their goal a reality.
To achieve their goal of creating the world’s largest cargo airship, Flying Whales specifically needs a material that can act as the first full structure of the vehicle. Fortunately, Exel Composites, known as a global leader in pultruded and pull-wound solutions, has established an R&D partnership with Flying Whales. Exel, in a significant contract with Flying Whales, plans to supply 46 miles of pull-wound carbon fiber tubes for the construction of the LCA60T. The Finnish company will manufacture these tubes using aeronautical carbon fiber and epoxy resin, and through the use of advanced pull-winding technology at their Joensuu factory in Finland. The use of this specific process will ensure that the tubes’ performance will be sufficient enough for the LCA60T while maintaining high-quality production. This continuous manufacturing process will also increase volume output and assure consistent carbon fiber placement and density.
Under the terms of the agreement between Exel Composites and Flying Whales, Exel will have to undergo a difficult qualification process to ensure Exel has the ability to meet the strict requirements for the carbon fiber tubes. By the third quarter of the year 2025, the company expects to deliver the carbon tubes.
The partnership, for the development and prototyping of the carbon tubes, is a massive advancement towards the creation of the LCA60T. According to the President and CEO of Exel Composites, Paul Sohlberg, the collaboration “not only showcases our advanced R&D and manufacturing capabilities but also highlights our dedication to meeting the stringent demands of the aerospace industry.” At the same time, Vincent Guibout, CEO of Flying Whales, describes that Exel’s “expertise in pull-winding technology and their ability to meet our rigorous specifications have been crucial in bringing the LCA60T airship to life.”
Because of the airship’s dependence on the carbon fiber tubes, the cooperation between the companies is very likely to continue and yield exceptional results. In all, the future for the upcoming LCA60T seems very bright, with many looking forward to its outcome and ability to revolutionize the industry of cargo transport.
Related Stories:
- https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/world-largest-cargo-airship-contract
- https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/press-release/55268468/collaboration-unveils-advanced-materials-for-worlds-largest-vertical-take-off-airship
- https://exelcomposites.com/flying-whales-pull-wound-tubes-contract/
- https://acmanet.org/exel-collaborating-with-flying-whales-to-design-vtol-cargo-airship/
- https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/EXEL-COMPOSITES-OYJ-1412455/news/Exel-Composites-Oyj-signs-contract-with-FLYING-WHALES-for-delivery-of-pull-wound-composite-tubes-f-49060913
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