Hexcel will supply composites for Flying Whales’ lca60t airship

Flying Whales says it is proud to collaborate with Hexcel, a global leader in advanced composite materials for aerospace applications. Hexcel’s extensive experience and innovation in carbon fibre technology have made them a trusted partner in the industry.

For its airship project, Flying Whales has chosen to utilise a large range of Hexcel’s products and especially Hexcel’s HexTow^® IMA Carbon Fiber, which has been selected for the pultruded tubes that compose the skeleton of the airship.

Flying Whales considers that the material offers an excellent balance between cost-efficiency and superior mechanical properties, such as high tensile strength and modulus, making it perfectly suited for their innovative structure, and that Hexcel’s commitment to advance composite technologies ensures that Flying Whales can achieve the performance and reliability standards necessary for their airship’s success.

“Together with Flying Whales, we are thrilled to be part of the visionary LCA60T airship project — a bold step forward that perfectly aligns with Hexcel’s purpose: “We propel the future of flight and transportation through excellence in advanced material solutions that create a better world for us all”. Over the past 2 years, Flying Whales and Hexcel have made significant progress together to develop a comprehensive range of cutting-edge composite materials. To meet Flying Whales’ requirements and technical constraints, Hexcel has developed materials such as prepregs, carbon fibres, fabrics, adhesives… Our composites are lighter and stronger than any other comparable material, enabling cleaner, more efficient and more sustainable air mobility. We are very proud to be working with Flying Whales to achieve excellence and customer satisfaction,” said Thierry Merlot, President, Europe Middle East Africa Asia Pacific, Hexcel.

“Working with Hexcel Composites has been a great journey. Their expertise in composite raw materials, their ability to develop and qualify aerospace products and to provide the most adapted solution have been crucial in bringing the LCA60T airship to life. This airship represents a significant leap forward in developing sustainable cargo transport, and we are excited to see the positive impact it will have on improving logistics in remote areas. By leveraging strong and light-weight composite materials, we are committed to creating an airship with minimal environmental impact,” added Vincent Guibout, CEO, Flying Whales.

Cover photo: Flying Whales and Hexcel team