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French project bets on an electric donut-shaped airship, with helium, steerable propellers, and a suspended cabin, to combine low speed, precise control, and reduced consumption in short-duration flights.
A French electric donut-shaped airship, with a suspended cabin for two people, was developed for slow, silent, and low-consumption flights in activities such as inspections, interventions on structures, observation, and tourist experiences.
Called Aéronde, the project uses helium for lift, electric propellers for maneuvering, and a circular shape designed to reduce common limitations in aircraft more sensitive to wind, according to the manufacturer.
The aircraft draws attention for its unusual design: a white ring 15 meters in diameter, with an open nacelle attached below the structure.
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The resemblance to a donut is acknowledged by the company itself, which presents the toroidal shape as a central part of the technical solution, not just as a visual identity.
The project was developed by the French startup Aéronde, founded by Jérôme Delamare, a professor-researcher associated with G2Elab, the electrical engineering laboratory in Grenoble.
The initiative received recognition in the French innovation contest i-Lab 2022-2023, promoted by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research of France, according to G2Elab.
The science behind the donut-shaped airship
The Aéronde is presented by the company as an electric aerostat with vertical takeoff and landing, powered by batteries and sustained by helium.
Instead of relying on wings, large rotors, or high speed to stay in the air, it uses a gas lighter than air to offset part of the structure’s weight.
Inside the ring, there are 400 m³ of helium, a volume that generates just over 400 kg of lift, according to Aéronde.
The reported payload is 200 kg, which allows carrying two people and equipment within the proposal for short flights and localized missions.
The toroidal shape, the technical name for the ring geometry, was adopted for operational reasons.
The manufacturer claims that this configuration reduces the “weathervane” effect observed in traditional airships, facilitates entry and exit from hangars regardless of wind direction, simplifies the manufacturing of the envelope, and allows the aerostat to be stored in lower structures.
This combination positions the Aéronde in a different category from conventional airplanes and helicopters.
The aircraft was not designed to compete in speed or range, but to operate in controlled displacements, with low energy consumption and the ability to maintain position in work close to structures.
Electric Propellers and Low-Speed Control
The movement of the Aéronde is carried out by three steerable propellers, each equipped with four electric motors.
In total, there are 12 motors powered by lithium-ion batteries, allowing for movement in different directions and maintenance of static position during aerial work activities.
The technical data published by the manufacturer indicates an autonomy of around four hours, an economic speed of approximately 20 km/h, and consumption of about 1.2 kWh per hour under standard use conditions.
The technical page also reports that the battery set has a total capacity of 8 kWh.
In a previous disclosure recorded by G2Elab, the project was described with a total consumption of 1 kWh per hour of flight and a comparison with an Écureuil B3 type helicopter, which consumes about 180 liters of kerosene per hour.
On the current Aéronde page, the comparison appears with a consumption of approximately 200 liters of kerosene per hour for a helicopter used in aerial work.
The difference between the numbers arises from the sources and the moments of disclosure.
To avoid extrapolation, the most recent data published by the company itself should be used as the main reference, while the previous values remain attributed to the G2Elab’s institutional material.
Electric Airships and Aviation Emissions
The search for alternatives with lower energy consumption in aviation appears in a context of pressure on the sector’s emissions.
Our World in Data estimates that aviation accounts for about 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions, in addition to having additional climatic effects associated with factors that are not limited to carbon dioxide.
Aerostats and airships do not replace airplanes on long-distance routes nor helicopters in all operations.
Even so, they can cater to niches where low speed, air endurance, operational silence, and reduced consumption are relevant characteristics, such as structure inspection, agricultural monitoring, events, temporary telecommunications, and emergency response situations, applications cited by Aéronde.
The main difference lies in the type of mission.
To observe an area, follow a power line, support a localized operation, or position technicians and equipment at a certain height, speed ceases to be the central factor.
In these cases, according to the manufacturer, stability and control at a fixed point are more important aspects of performance.
Suspended Cabin and Operation of Aéronde
The nacelle, the structure where the pilot and passenger or operator are located, accommodates two people and equipment.
It functions as a cockpit and is suspended under the helium ring, in an open configuration that favors visibility around during flight and during activities close to the ground or elevated structures.
Aéronde states that the aircraft falls under class 5 of the French ultralight regulation, aimed at ultralight aerostats.
To pilot it, an appropriate license is required, in addition to complementary training offered by the company.
In terms of safety, the manufacturer claims that the envelope operates with low internal pressure, about 4 millibars.
According to the company, this feature causes the helium to escape slowly in case of punctures, and the aircraft has also been demonstrated in flight with only one of the three propellers functioning.
The technical page also states that Aéronde can operate under weather conditions compatible with general aviation, including rain, low visibility, wind of 15 km/h, and temperatures below zero.
In an institutional text from G2Elab, resistance to gusts of up to 70 km/h appears as an expectation associated with the steerable propellers.
Tourist Flights and Availability in France
In addition to professional applications, Aéronde presents the aircraft as a tourist experience.
The page aimed at passengers describes 20-minute flights at Grenoble-Le Versoud aerodrome in France, priced at €200 per flight and a weight limit of 95 kg for the passenger.
The same page informs, however, that flights are currently suspended to allow for the construction of new models.
Therefore, the experience should be treated as an offer promoted by the company, but not as a regular operation available at the time of inquiry.
The manufacturer’s website does not provide information on purchase price, rental, or commercial operation outside of the experiences and applications presented.
There is also not enough public data on the consulted pages to state whether the aircraft is already available to customers outside of France.
The Aéronde shows how concepts associated with airships can be adapted to specific uses, with electrification, toroidal geometry, and control by orientable thrusters.
In this case, the circular design, suspended cabin, and low speed form a solution aimed at missions where precise displacement, air permanence, and reduced consumption appear as technical priorities declared by the manufacturer.
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