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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/21/flying-whales-airships-helium-object-transport-cargo>
"They’re huge, can float through the air and are synonymous with one of
history’s most notorious transport disasters – but airships could be set for a
cargo-oriented, green renaissance.
French startup Flying Whales has a vision to begin manufacturing its airships –
which instead of hydrogen, like the Hindenburg, will rely on 180,000 cubic
metres of helium – by 2025 with an eye to gaining regulatory certification to
begin operating in skies by the end of 2027.
The chief executive of Flying Whales, Sébastien Bougon, says his company’s
airships would have a very specific purpose – transporting pre-built objects
such as components of wind turbines or field hospitals, as well as cargo that
is so large it must be disassembled or is too cumbersome to be delivered by
road.
They also would not need to land to load or drop off deliveries, or have to
rely on roads which can be either dangerous, indirect or nonexistent.
The airships would be able to float above cargo ships to pick up specific
containers or other large objects up to 60,000kg, and fly them directly to
their destination in one piece, at a maximum speed of about 100km/h."
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*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
