Some things from the 1920s are better left behind (prohibition, economic frivolity culminating in a depression), but other trends are due for a comeback. For example, airships.
Driving the news: Aptly named French aerospace startup Flying Whales is picking between two Québec locations for the Canadian production site to build football field-sized airships, which are lifted by helium and powered by a low-emission propulsion system.
Catch-up: Ever since the hydrogen-filled Hindenburg airship burst into flames in 1937, blimps and other airships have been driven near extinction, with only around a dozen still operating today. But as demand for sustainable aviation grows, several companies are now trying to bring back the dirigible.
Why it matters: Flying Whales is pitching its airships as a practical way to carry goods to remote areas, offering a faster option than ocean freighters and a cheaper one than cargo jets. Plus, airships don’t require the same infrastructure; they just need a flat place to land.
- Québec is bullish on the project and has invested $77 million. Canadian companies have also bought in, with Flying Whales signing over 70 pre-commercial deals.
What’s next: Questions remain about the company’s technical feasibility and financial viability. But if everything goes right, testing will start in 2027, with the first commercial airborne whales taking to the skies in 2029.—QH