[news] World's biggest aircraft the Airlander 10 set for test flight

[unixman_again]

The Advertiser

 

I have no idea why this was reported on the website of newspaper where I from in Australia. Here's the company website Hybrid Air Vehicles - Airlander 10

[ICTDirect_Dave]

ahh this is the project that Bruce Dickinson (yep the Iron Maiden chap) has invested a lot of time and money into. I was reading about his airship obsession after their most recent album.

 

It's about time we got airships right. They're too cool a concept to abandon completely.

[DalekSec]

I can't the be only one who thinks it looks like a giant butt,

[MrPstv]

I can't the be only one who thinks it looks like a giant butt,

 

Sure does...

[DJ-1701]

I can't the be only one who thinks it looks like a giant butt,

 

Sure does...

 

Thank goodness we aren't there for lift off...

[ICTDirect_Dave]

It sure does. Maybe that's where we went wrong years ago. The old airships just weren't ar$e shaped enough (well that plus the Hydrogen lifting gas and magnesium paint).

 

 

Speaking of old airships here's my favourite song of last year... All 18 minutes of it!

 

[6Foot2]

Link: Airlander 10: World's longest aircraft grounded [bBC News]

 

The world's longest aircraft has been permanently grounded as developers prepare to start work on a new model.

 

The £32m Airlander 10 - a combination of plane and airship - had completed six test flights before it collapsed to the ground in November 2017.

 

Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), based in Bedford, said it had received Civil Aviation Authority backing to start work on a new craft.

 

It is hoped the new model will take to the skies in the early 2020s.

 

Stephen McGlennan, chief executive officer of HAV, said: "Our focus is now entirely on bringing the first batch of production standard, type certified Airlander 10 aircraft into service with customers.

 

"The prototype served its purpose as the world's first full-sized hybrid aircraft, providing us with the data we needed to move forward from prototype to production standard.

 

"As a result, we do not plan to fly the prototype aircraft again."...

[Sonic007]

Being able to only carry 50 people isnt great is it?

No airport is going to want to give up gate space to accomodate this beast.