French startup Flying Whale is on its mission to transform freight transport with its ambitious high-capacity airship 60-ton (LCA60T) project. This 656-foot-long, huge helium-filled airship aims to connect population centers to areas that are not accessible remotely by moving important goods and materials without touching the ground.
Large capacity airship 60 tons (flying whales) (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
Airship technology based on numbers
LCA60T It has a cargo capacity of up to 132,000 pounds, surpassing the Airbus Beluga XL. The airship's helium volume reaches 6.3 million cubic feet and can reach a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet. Propelled by 32 electric propeller drives combined with 5,360 horsepower, the LCA60T can achieve a top speed of 63 mph. The LCA60T incorporates several cutting-edge design elements. Its skeletal frame features a composite beam grating structure with metal joints. The airship contains 14 unpressurized helium cells with advanced sensor systems. The 315-foot-long cargo hold is a structural compartment with dual sliding doors. The specially developed Diatex Ultralight Polyester Textile acts as a skin.
Large capacity airship 60 tons (flying whales) (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
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Promoting the future
Initially, the LCA60T uses a combination of high-voltage lithium-ion batteries and turbine generators. However, flying whales are planning to move to hydrogen fuel cell generation to reduce emissions and make them a more sustainable option.
Large capacity airship 60 tons (flying whales) (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
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Partnerships and progress
Flying Whale formed a strategic partnership to realize its vision. Evolito supplies 32 D250 electric motors for propulsion, each producing 308 horsepower. The company has already raised more than $300 million in public and private funding and began wind tunnel testing of the outer material in late January 2025.
Large capacity airship 60 tons (flying whales) (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
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Potential applications
The versatility of the LCA60T opens up many possibilities. You can extract renewable wood from remote logging sites and supply materials for energy construction projects. Airships can also provide humanitarian assistance, deliver cargo containers on land or from ships, and deploy temporary modular hospitals in underserved areas.
Large capacity airship 60 tons (flying whales) (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
Important takeouts for your cart
The flying whale LCA60T represents a bold vision for the future of cargo transportation. The project faces important technical and economic challenges, but it cannot be ruled out that it could revolutionize logistics and link isolated areas. As the company moves towards its 2027 flight testing goals, the world will see if this modern airship can truly fly and enter a new era of sustainable and accessible transportation.
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