Flying Whales selects Honeywell’s 1 megawatt generator for its LCA60T Airship

Flying Whales Quebec, a subsidiary of Flying Whales has selected Honeywell’s 1 megawatt generator for its LCA60T hybrid electric airship. The 1 megawatt generator will be used to power the onboard electric engines, from jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This hybrid-electric system provides both an energy efficient and environmentally conscious means of transportation.

Dave Marinick, the President of Engines & Power Systems at Honeywell Aerospace, explained the significance of the company’s generator:

Honeywell’s 1-megawatt generator is a perfect fit for a transformational aircraft like the LCA60T. Our generator is four times as powerful as any other generator flying today, and at unmatched power density. We believe in creating a more sustainable future for aviation, and our work with FLYING WHALES is helping bring that future to life.

Honeywell’s 1 megawatt turbogenerator
(photo courtesy of Honeywell)

The LCA60T is an impressive 200 meter long, 8 meter high airship that can float above rugged terrain and rough seas. It features a rigid composite frame covered with a specialized textile skin. Within this structure, are located cells of non-pressured helium (inert) gas amounting to roughly 180,000 cubit meters of helium. Helium allows the LCA60T to soar with less C02 impact than comparable methods.

With a payload of 60 tonnes and a max speed of 100 km/h (54 knots), the airship can effectively and efficiently handle transporting “oversized” loads into difficult to access areas.

The CEO of Flying Whales Quebec, Arnaud Thioulouse expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration:

We are pleased and proud to welcome Honeywell, which joins us in developing the next generation of propulsion systems. This important collaboration completes and strengthens our Canadian consortium to develop and manufacture our high-power turbogenerator. Today, we are building in Canada the expertise and technological advancements for tomorrow’s aeronautics

Thanks to the partnership between Flying Whales and Honeywell, people can look forward to the future benefits from airships powered by advanced generators capable of operating on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). These airships will be able to travel over forests and mountain ranges to install wind turbines and power lines with minimal disruption to the land, avoiding the need to build costly access roads. They could also transport shipping containers directly from vessels offshore to ports, rail terminals, or inland destinations. In addition, mobile medical clinics could be lifted and transported to remote communities where healthcare infrastructure is limited, providing access to essential medical services in areas that are otherwise difficult to reach.

Together, Flying Whales and Honeywell are demonstrating how innovative partnerships can drive the development of sustainable technologies that address real-world transportation and infrastructure challenges.

More Info:

Honeywell’s official press release: click here

Flying Whales official website: click here

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