Airlander 10: World’s largest aircraft takes flight over UK

The world’s largest aircraft made a successful launch as it floated over UK skies on Wednesday. The 302 feet long helium filled Airlander 10 blimp is a part airplane, part helicopter and part airship. The giant aircraft was assembled by a firm called Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) and is said to be larger than the Airbus A380. It is also cheaper with a cost of £25 million, compared with £287 million for an A380. The aircraft has a capacity to carry a 10-tonne payload which is comparable with military transport helicopters such as the Boeing CH-47 Chinook. HAV’s chief test pilot, David Burns, took the lighter-than-air aircraft to the skies with crowds as well as photographers cheered for “the flying bum”, a nickname given to the craft for its bulbous exterior. https://twitter.com/toots069/status/762615414912233473 The Airlander is powered by four 350HP V8 diesel engines, two in the forward of hull and two in the stern. Thrust from all engines can be harboured for takeoff, landing and ground handling operations. The airship will be undergoing 200 hours of test flights over a number of months, before it is showcased to prospective customers. https://twitter.com/DawnSunrise1/status/766012426668089348 HAV chief executive officer Stephen McGlennan commented, “Think of a big helicopter, a really giant helicopter. This can do the same thing that a helicopter can do - that’s to say, provide air transportation for people and goods without the need for a runway - but this thing can take more over longer distances, it’s cheaper and it’s greener. It’s a great British innovation. It’s a combination of an aircraft that has parts of normal fixed wing aircraft, it’s got helicopter, it’s got airship.”