A Nonstop Trip Around the Earth Without a Drop of Oil... 'Whale-Like Airplane' Takes Off

French Airship 'Solar Airship One' in Spotlight
Sustainable Airship Operation with Solar Cells
"Nonstop Crossing of Over 25 Countries by 2026"

An airship capable of flying around the Earth non-stop without landing is expected to appear as early as 2026. It attracts attention as electricity is generated by solar power instead of fossil fuels.

The French company Euro Airship announced plans to fly 40,000 km?equivalent to one lap around the Earth?non-stop with the airship "Solar Airship One," which is being developed as a sustainable means of transportation.

Solar Airship One rendering. [Image provided by Euro Airship]

Resembling a whale, this airship will be the world's first to fly non-stop without noise or fossil fuels. It is expected to cross more than 25 countries over 20 days at an average altitude of 6 km and an average speed of 83 km/h.

First, the airship's interior is filled with helium, a gas lighter than air, creating buoyancy. The concept is that the airship will float in the air like a balloon.

Also, the airship's fuselage, which is 151 meters long?twice the length of a Boeing 747 jet?is densely covered with solar panels. The vast 4,800㎡ solar panel area generates the power needed to propel the airship in the desired direction.

Electricity generated from the solar panels powers motors connected to the propulsion propellers, and the surplus electricity is stored in hydrogen fuel cells installed in the fuselage. At night, when there is no sunlight, electricity can be drawn from these fuel cells.

[Image source=Euro Airship YouTube capture]

Because of this, "Solar Airship One" requires no fossil fuels like aviation fuel. Euro Airship explained, "Since it uses solar power, the airship can continuously receive power, and it also suppresses carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming."

The airship will be crewed by three pilots. First, Bertrand Piccard, a Swiss hot air balloon pilot and the world's first person to complete a non-stop round-the-world balloon flight, has joined. Also, Dorine Bourneton, the world's first female disabled pilot, and former astronaut and fighter pilot Michel Tognini are expected to join the crew.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.