Firm Establishes Presence in Sherbrooke

Rewritten Article

Get ready for the skies above Quebec to see some gigantic aircrafts, thanks to Flying Whales' ambitious plans. If everything goes according to plan, these cargo airships will be built right here in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

Our man Julien Arsenault tells us that, while the French company's project isn't leaving anyone untouched, it's taking a significant step forward this Thursday. The chosen site for the manufacturing plant in Quebec territory will be announced - we're still a ways off from breaking ground.

It’s all but confirmed that developers have locked in a 50-hectare site – that's roughly 40 American football fields – on the grounds of Sherbrooke Airport. Three Rivers was a runner-up.

Quebec has put in $75 million to acquire half of the French subsidiary of Flying Whales. This move signals that there are plenty of steps ahead, with major financing hurdles on Flying Whales' side still to be addressed. The deal between Flying Whales, Sherbrooke, Cookshire-Eaton, and the airport is merely a principle agreement at this point.

This means that we'll focus on the nitty-gritty: environmental, technical, regulatory, and financial studies. If everything pans out, we might just see two humongous hangars where the cargo airships will be assembled, alongside a circular takeoff area over 200 meters in diameter.

Based in France, Flying Whales aims to create cargo airships for transporting oversized loads – like wind turbine blades, hydraulic turbines, and mining equipment – weighing up to 60 tons. These heavy loads will be particularly useful in reaching remote and infrastructure-limited areas, like Quebec's Far North.

First, the aircraft will be equipped with hybrid propulsion, and then they'll transition to fully electric power. According to Barry Prentice, who heads the Institute of Transportation at the University of Manitoba, this decision makes sense, as roughly 70% of Canada's surface area isn't reachable by roads [1]. In this context, cargo airships could play a vital role.

But there are still plenty of obstacles to overcome, adds Mr. Prentice. For one, cargo airships won't land on the ground when delivering goods, posing certain challenges in maintaining stability during cargo removal. To address this issue, Flying Whales proposes pumping water using a hose connected to the airship, but Mr. Prentice questions the feasibility and potential costs of such a solution.

The cargo airship design does, however, eliminate the need for ground infrastructure during cargo operations, which is a definite plus for minimizing environmental disruption.

One concern that remains unanswered is the timing. Flying Whales hasn't built a cargo airship 13 years after its founding, and its French factory in Nouvelle-Aquitaine isn't completed yet. The financial backing is also still up in the air, with continued discussions happening on both domestic and international fronts. According to the office of Minister of Economy, Innovation, and Energy Christine Frechette, no new financial support is guaranteed as of yet.

Intrigued by the LCA60T? Here are some key specifications:

Length: 200 meters
Diameter: 50 meters
Ceiling: 3000 meters (10,000 feet)
Payload: 60-tonne capacity
Maximum speed: 100 km/h (54 knots) [2][3][4]

The aerospace industry in Quebec is preparing for a significant shift with Flying Whales' plans to build cargo airships, set to be conducted in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
The chosen site for the manufacturing plant in Quebec territory, a 50-hectare area, has been almost confirmed, equivalent to approximately 40 American football fields, located on the grounds of Sherbrooke Airport.
Quebec's finance sector has already taken a step by investing $75 million to acquire half of the French subsidiary of Flying Whales, a move that signifies many steps ahead, including addressing major financial hurdles.
Once the environmental, technical, regulatory, and financial studies are finalized, two immense hangars might be built where the cargo airships will be assembled, along with a circular takeoff area spanning over 200 meters in diameter.
The technology behind these cargo airships is geared towards transporting oversized loads, such as wind turbine blades, hydraulic turbines, and mining equipment, up to 60 tons, and they are likely to play a crucial role in reaching remote and underdeveloped areas like Quebec's Far North.