Joining forces to fly the whale

The LCA60T is being developed by Flying Whales to transport cargo where road infrastructure is not sufficient or lacking completely, namely in inaccessible and remote areas of the world. The project has received private funding in 2016 and 2017, strengthening the project.

The development and design of this airborne solution will enable the increase of large volumes of timber extraction from land-locked areas. It is claimed that it will also offer low operating costs with almost no environmental impact.

The LCA60T is a 150m long airship, the size of one and a half football fields with a height equivalent of a twelve-story building, that is able to carry 60 tons in its cargo hold or under-slung.

Originally launched in 2013, the programme stemmed from challenges with the French trade deficit in the timber sector. Despite the availability of resources, the industry faced challenges in accessing and transporting the materials to less accessible areas of the country and needed a long-term solution. Consequently, Assystem Technologies with Flying Whales have proceeded to develop this cost-effective mode of aerial transportation that is able to transport large volumes of heavy materials.

The LCA60T project is highly innovative throughout the whole programme. Assystem Technologies consulted Flying Whales on adapting an innovative stereolithographic (additive manufactured) method to ensure safety. This technology steers away from the traditional aerospace systems, where segments of the aircraft are assembled. The major benefit of using the stereolithographic process is that all operations are made at chest height between 1.80 and 12m.

“This approach secures and facilitates the operations which means less time to fully assemble the airship – meaning enhanced efficiencies,” comments David Fiorina, vice-president Aerodefense, Assystem Technologies.

Sebastien Bougon, founder of Flying Whales commented on the collaboration: “Assystem Technologies’ team imagined the LCA60T assembly line and provided us with a turnkey service. As a result we’ve developed intelligent solutions that help greatly the path of the programme.”

The LCA60T project will target the large market of transportation and logistics in countries with transport infrastructure deficit. The industrial production launch is planned for 2022 with the objective of producing at least 150 units in the first ten years of exploitation.

Assystem Technologies specialises in product engineering and post-development services for industrial clients operating in the aerospace, defence, automotive, transportation, industry and banking sectors. In 2017, Assystem Technologies achieved a turnover of around one billion euros.

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