Whale-shaped solar-powered airship as big as Blackpool Tower to fly itself non-stop around the world in 20 days
A GIANT whale-shaped airship is set to take to the skies in a remarkable non-stop journey around the world.
The trip will last over 24,000miles, taking 20 days and has been called a jewel of technology, energy, efficiency and safety.
The Solar Airship One, developed in France, is a huge 495ft balloon vessel, as big as the Blackpool Tower, that will fly past over 25 countries in 2026.
It’s being advertised as 100 per cent electric as it’ll run on sun and hydrogen power meaning it will create zero carbon emissions.
The unusual aircraft will be almost 20,000ft above the ground going across Mexico, India, the US and more along its trip in two years’ time.
Euro Airship who are helping create the big whale said: “Throughout history, all great dreams have been considered impossible before they are fulfilled.
“Behind each feat, explorers have invented the future by going beyond the boundaries of our certainties.
“They have challenged the norms, questioned conventional wisdom to discover new solutions.”
One of the most impressive parts of the airship is that it will be almost silent.
After 10 years of research the helium volume is hoped to be at just 50,000 m3.
Its structure is made up of 15 individually controlled gas envelopes, which help control the aircraft in windy weather.
If it needs to land, designers say it will be able to land, using a rotating platform, on a “sheet of water”, meaning they won’t need any heavy machinery.
Three pilots are being trusted to fly Solar Airship One even though it is completely self drivable.
They include Michel Tognini, a former European Space Agency astronaut, who made two trips to space in 1992 and again in 1999.
Alongside him will be Bertrand Piccard, a pioneer in this field, and Dorine Bourneton, the first disabled female aerobatic pilot.
Dorine survived a plane crash at 16 before becoming a pilot later in life.
She said: “We must be attentive to the needs and expectations of future generations.
“Whether for our children or our grandchildren.”
Previously, an enormous flying hotel was close to being made.
It would’ve carried 3,000 passengers and travelled at 460mph making it faster and bigger than any other airline.
The Aerocon Wingship could have been a revolutionary way to travel but only one was ever built after the Kremlin fell out of love with the idea and thought they could make one ten times bigger called the Sea Monster.
Another unusual flying invention, nicknamed the “Flying Bum”, is reported to start carrying passengers by 2026.
The 300ft aircraft will be able to take British holidaymakers to Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca,
