Next level for zero carbon aviation
The project of the first airship to perform a non-stop world tour with no CO2 emission was showcased during last week's Climate Week NYC:
Eleven years after starting the 100% round-the-world flight with Solar Impulse, Swiss national Bertrand Piccard is set to circumnavigate the globe with a rigid airship, currently under development by Euro Airship, a French company that has carried out over ten years of engineering analysis and design. With a departure planned during 2026, the 151 m long Solar Airship One will fly 40,000 km in 20 days at 6,000 m altitude.
Euro Airship has prepared construction-ready designs for its initial two models: the Corsair, with a 1-8 t payload capacity, and the DGPAtt (30-50 t). Future models with capacities extending to 250-400 t have been planned. Their uses include the transport of conventional and XXL freight or humanitarian aid. (ah)