LIFT Challenge: taking off towards student innovation

🚀 FLYING WHALES hosted the third Design and Testing Review (DTR) of the LIFT Challenge, a competition organized with Planète Sciences that showcases how airships can be used to transport heavy loads using scaled-down prototypes.

The event brought together four teams from ENS Rennes, IPSA, ESTACA, and ELISA Aerospace Bordeaux. Thanks to helium provided by Air Liquide and the support of several FLYING WHALES experts, the students were able to inflate their envelopes and complete their first hover flights — a major milestone in the development of their mini-airships.

Highlights included a perfectly controlled flight from IPSA, the defending champion, which is now ready to deploy its load-lifting system!

A big thank you to the City of Suresnes for their warm welcome.

📍 The enthusiastic feedback from participants underlines the importance of this final step before the grand finale, which will take place on June 29 and 30 at the Arkéa Arena in Bordeaux!