Two years ago, in 2021, a startup called AirWhiteWhale was created in China, which set itself the goal of creating a full-fledged unmanned aerial vehicle that would carry out cargo transportation. It is important to clarify that we are not talking about a small drone that delivers food from a restaurant, but about a huge cargo plane capable of transporting cargo weighing up to 5 tons from airport to airport. And although the idea seemed too complicated at first, the company has now said that the project has already been developed, but funds are now needed for many further steps. Yes, it is impossible to simply design an aircraft in the program, and then send it to the conveyor.
Accordingly, employees at Chinese startup AirWhiteWhale now plan to raise between $15 million and $22 million, which will be spent on the process of more detailed design of the frame and many controls, on the research needed for an unmanned vehicle, and on the development, production and testing of various components. . As with any aircraft, the company has a long way to go from mock-up to the first completed prototype, which will go through a lot of test flights before it receives permission for commercial use. But the end result could enrich AirWhiteWhale — China is experiencing an acute shortage of drones in air cargo.
However, albeit in a layout format, AirWhiteWhale has already developed its first unmanned aircraft and told about its characteristics. The model is called the W5000, which probably hints at the maximum payload – it is 5 tons (5,000 kilograms). At the same time, the maximum take-off weight of the aircraft is 10.8 tons (including fuel, equipment and other components, including the payload), and the standard cruising range reaches 1,200 kilometers. However, the company said that in theory they will be able to increase the range of the aircraft to 2,600 kilometers in the near future (perhaps due to improved aerodynamics). Inside the cargo hold, the vehicle is no different from its brethren with human pilots.
The AirWhiteWhale W5000 has been specifically designed to allow the loading of perfectly standard shipping containers and pallets from the rear hatch of the vehicle, with a total cargo volume of 65 cubic meters. As a result, such aircraft without pilots in the cockpit should significantly reduce the cost of freight transportation – the cost of fuel and wages to pilots can significantly increase the efficiency of the vehicle. Moreover, the manufacturer receives additional space for the cargo compartment, because the aircraft does not need to install a cabin, a toilet room, use a pressurization system, oxygen supply or climate control.
Source: Trash Box
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
