It is around 60ft longer than any other aircraft, coming in at around 302ft (92m) and is the length of a football field. It generates lift through being filled with helium and it’s top speed is 145kmh.
Upon receiving £2.5m from the UK government to fund the development of the technology and engineering, Bedford-based Hybrid Air Vehicles are rumoured to create an even bigger version that will carry up to 50 tonnes.
The plane will be used for various endeavours, such as leisure travel, and transporting cargo to hard-to-reach places. It can stay afloat, unmanned, for three weeks – and they have even tested this with bullet holes in its side. It was originally developed in 2009 by the US Army but they soon abandoned the project.
It’s not an airship. It’s a mix between an aeroplane, an airship with a bit of helicopter thrown in.
It uses the latest materials, it’s got the latest fly-by-night technology, avionics and computer software.
It’s very much an aircraft for the 21st century.
The Airlander 10 is highly specialist and would not appeal to the mass market.
[source: mirror]
