Michelin supports development of Voliris emissions-free aircraft

Clermont-Ferrand, France – Michelin Inflatable Solutions is collaborating with French aircraft designer Voliris on the development of its ‘new generation’ automated container transport air shuttle (NATAC).

The Michelin subsidiary will bring its expertise in materials and their assembly, supplying polymer composites that meet the technical constraints of the aircraft’s ‘envelop wing’.

The objective of NATAC is to transport freight without CO2 emissions, using “a flying wing" to access areas with under-equipped infrastructure.

“Heavier than air, this aircraft project does not require ballast when dropping its load, and could thus transform the air freight sector,” said Michelin 7 Oct.

According to Michelin, the construction of the envelope wing is “one of the most innovative elements” of the NATAC, due to the major technical constraints to which it is subject.

Segmented into 5 lobes, the envelope with a volume of 25,000 cubic metres arrives folded at the place of use before being inflated.

Its geometry is maintained by a system of pulleys which varies the volume by adjusting its aerodynamic shape at different altitudes.

In addition to this internal tension, the envelope must withstand significant external loads from the cables carrying the cargo (up to 30 tonnes), mechanical stresses caused by inflation pressure across a large surface area (8,000 sq,.m.), and the requirement to remain impermeable to helium and, ultimately, hydrogen.

Voliris and Michelin Inflatable Solutions plan to manufacture the first full-scale demonstrator of the NATAC wing by 2028 for ground testing and validation of the shuttle's on-site implementation.

The NATAC is a hybrid solution between an airship and a cargo plane and does not require a hard runway for takeoff.

In order to transport freight without CO2 emissions, the aircraft is designed to be 100% compatible with hydrogen, which is intended to ultimately serve as fuel and carrier gas.

The aircraft features an automatic pilot system which allows it to travel without personnel on board.