Maker of blimp-like hybrid-electric cargo airship taps Honeywell Phoenix for generator

Phoenix-based Honeywell Aerospace will supply power for a blimp-like airship that is expected to handle heavy loads in less accessible areas for a variety of industries.

A 1-megawatt generator made by Honeywell (Nasdaq: HON) was selected by Flying Whales Quebec — which is based in France and Canada — to be integrated into its new LCA60T hybrid-electric airship that is currently under development.

The Flying Whales craft is a 200-meter-long hybrid-electric vehicle able to carry 60 tons of cargo. It can load and unload from a stationary hovering position and was originally designed to carry renewable wood from remote areas. It is now conceived as a transport option that can move heavy loads at low cost with no ground constraints for a variety of logistical applications such as loading and unloading cargo ships or assisting in disaster zones.

Honeywell’s generator system was chosen for its power density and efficiency and its suitability for piloted and autonomous flight. It can also be used as a motor without modifications for electric propulsion engines, Honeywell said.

In the Flying Whales craft, the generator will be integrated with a gearbox and a turbine that uses jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel. The generator will supply power to the electric engines in a system that works similarly to one in a hybrid-electric automobile.

“Honeywell’s 1-megwatt generator is a perfect fit for a transformational aircraft like the LCA60T,” Dave Marinick, Honeywell Aerospace president of Engines & Power Systems, said in a statement. “Our generator is four times as powerful as any other generator flying today, and at unmatched power density. We believe in creating a more sustainable future for aviation, and our work with Flying Whales is helping bring that future to life.”

The Phoenix company said its generator passed its first round of testing in May 2022, and said that its results have been more impressive as testing has continued. The most recent tests in late 2022 revealed that the generator operated continuously at 1,000 kilowatts at 1.06 MVA (or 1MW) power levels, Honeywell said. The company said this means it has the high-power density and efficiency needed for hybrid-electric propulsion for aerospace and ground uses.

“This important collaboration completes and strengthens our Canadian consortium to develop and manufacture our high-power turbogenerator. Today, we are building in Canada the expertise and technological advancements for tomorrow’s aeronautics,” said Flying Whales CEO Arnaud Thioulouse in a statement.