Airlander 10, World's Largest Airship Dubbed 'Flying Bum,' Takes Maiden Voyage
Source: NBC news
CARDINGTON AIRFIELD, England The world's largest aircraft has taken off on its maiden flight.
The 302-foot-long Airlander 10 is filled with 1.3 million cubic feet of helium, can reach an altitude of up to 16,000 feet, and stay in the air for five days.
Manufacturer Hybrid Air Vehicles says the aircraft can be used for surveillance, communications and humanitarian aid deliveries.
Its first flight was cancelled on Sunday due to a technical problem.
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Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/bottoms-world-s-largest-airship-nicknamed-flying-bum-takes-maiden-n633031
100 years ago, zeppelins were the ultimate terror weapons...
Today they are amusing curiosities...
Ex Lurker
(3,808 posts)If they can build one that can keep station at around 25000 feet, they'll have something. That's above most of the weather.
And while lighter than air craft have so far proved to be an evolutionary dead end in aviation technology, airships still have potential, at least in niche roles. And If they could scale them up to say, 1/4 the capacity of a cargo ship, with the speed to cross the Pacific in 48 hours, they'd really have something.
Chakab
(1,727 posts)MowCowWhoHow III
(2,103 posts)Nuclear Unicorn
(19,497 posts)sakabatou
(42,082 posts)Kaleva
(36,145 posts)jpak
(41,741 posts)Response to jpak (Original post)
trusty elf This message was self-deleted by its author.
Orrex
(63,084 posts)jpak
(41,741 posts)Javaman
(62,439 posts)I named my first dog after the character Duffy on that show! LOL
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)I like aviation things, thanks for posting.
BumRushDaShow
(127,281 posts)it's not filled with hydrogen!
Another view of Airlander in flight -
Here is an interesting article on this latest monstrosity and visions of large airships - http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/02/29/a-new-generation-of-airships-is-born
Javaman
(62,439 posts)BumRushDaShow
(127,281 posts)Of course, if you have a secure rail around your porch and a strong enough hose, that might mitigate the problem!
Historic NY
(37,449 posts)malthaussen
(17,065 posts)Bibliovore
(185 posts)"Airlander 10, World's Largest Airship Dubbed 'Flying Bum,' Takes Maiden Voyage" --- Without a comma after "Airship", that headline parses that this is merely the largest of all the airships that happen to be dubbed "Flying Bum". Which it presumably is, but still.
VWolf
(3,944 posts)Ilsa
(61,675 posts)well, you know.