The hybrid aircraft/airship will fly around the world for 20 consecutive days.

French company Euro Airship is developing Solar Airship One, a whale-shaped aircraft capable of flying around more than 25 countries in 20 days, with its maiden flight expected in 2026.

The hybrid aircraft/airship will fly around the world for 20 consecutive days.

Simulation of the first flight of Solar Airship One. Video : Euro Airship

According to Euro Airship's plan, the engineering team is working urgently to ensure the first continuous flight around the world without fossil fuels can meet the schedule. Euro Airship is confident its aircraft will produce no noise or carbon emissions as it relies solely on sunlight and hydrogen, according to Design Boom .

Solar Airship One will be 151 meters long with an expandable volume of 53,000 cubic meters. Almost the entire surface of the vehicle will be covered with 4,800 square meters of solar film to collect ample sunlight. During the day, the aircraft will use solar power. At night, excess electricity will be stored in fuel cells that produce hydrogen through water electrolysis. To avoid the inertness issues associated with the use of helium, the aircraft will include 15 gas-filled hulls, allowing for immediate response and prediction of meteorological events.

Solar Airship One will undertake a continuous journey around the world from west to east, flying near the equator, covering a distance of over 40,000 km in 20 days at an average altitude of 6,000 m. The entire journey will take place without any stops or refueling. India, China, Mexico, the United States, Mauritania, Mali, and France are among the countries the pilots will fly the aircraft over in 2026.

Euro Airship intends to increase the aircraft's independence by ensuring the vehicle does not require any cumbersome ground infrastructure. To help stabilize the vehicle, the company will develop a water-based ballast system and a pneumatic support system. Solar Airship One is the result of more than 10 years of research and development, along with 3 years of collaborative design with 100 engineers from Capgemini.

Euro Airship stated that the flight crew will maintain regular contact with governments , international institutions, and schools in the countries they fly over. The aircraft will be piloted by three pilots. After the round-the-world journey, the company will apply for full operational permits for the aircraft.

An Khang (According to Design Boom )

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