Fish are usually one of the last things that come to mind when you think of something floating through the air.
But a new project hopes to see a giant ‘whale-shaped’ airship take to the skies on a remarkable non-stop journey of more than 25,000 miles in 20 days.
Developed by engineers in France, the Solar Airship One is a 150-meter long balloon ship that will fly over 25 countries in 2026.
It is billed as a solar and hydrogen powered aircraft that requires no fossil fuels and produces no CO2 emissions.
Mexico, India and the US are among the countries that could soon see the airship flying overhead as three pilots guide it along the equator from west to east at an altitude of 6,000 meters in two years.
Ambitious: A new project hopes to see a giant ‘whale-shaped’ airship (pictured) take to the skies for a remarkable non-stop journey of more than 25,000 miles in 20 days
“Throughout history, all great dreams have been considered impossible before they came to fruition,” says the Euro Airship team.
‘Behind every achievement, explorers invented the future by going beyond the limits of our certainties.
“They have challenged norms and challenged conventional wisdom to discover new solutions.
“Today the adventure must continue with a great journey for the protection of the environment and renewable energies.”
Plans for the silent aircraft – the result of more than a decade of research – suggest it will have a helium volume of 50,000 m3.
The structure consists of 15 individually controllable gas envelopes, allowing the gas envelopes to be controlled amid severe or stormy weather.
If it needs to land, designers say a rotating platform on a ‘water surface’ will be an ideal spot, eliminating the need for heavy machinery.
Action against climate change is also at the forefront of the design, as the entire surface is covered with 4,800 m2 of solar film.
This generates electricity from sunlight during the day, with the surplus being stored in fuel cells that produce hydrogen via electrolysis.
Developed by engineers in France, the Solar Airship One is a 150-meter long balloon ship that will fly over 25 countries in 2026.
It is billed as a solar and hydrogen powered aircraft that requires no fossil fuels and produces no CO2 emissions
Mexico, India and the US are among the countries that could soon see the airship flying overhead as three pilots guide it along the equator from west to east at an altitude of 6,000 meters in two years.
The team plans to make the airship fully autonomous, although there will be three pilots on board to ensure the journey goes smoothly.
They include Michel Tognini, a former European Space Agency astronaut who made two space flights in 1992 on the Soyuz TM-15 and seven years later on the Space Shuttle Columbia on STS-93.
Dorine Bourneton, the first disabled female aerobatic pilot, is also part of the project.
She survived a plane crash at the age of 16 before pursuing a career as a pilot later in life.
Speaking ahead of the project, Ms Bourneton said: ‘We must pay attention to the needs and expectations of future generations.
‘Whether it’s for our children or for our grandchildren.’
Plans for the silent plane – the result of more than a decade of research – suggest it will have a helium volume of 50,000 m3
The structure consists of 15 individually controllable gas envelopes, allowing the gas envelopes to be controlled amid severe or stormy weather.