Airlander

[Joeboy]

Not sure I see the point in this at €32million for 6 flights?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-b ... s-60214845

[Moxi]

Wasn't it originally rolled out as a large bulk cargo system for moving large and specialised loads around the world? A bit like the Antinov AN-225 but more economical (allegedly).

Would be nice to see commercial blimps floating about if they are less polluting than their jet equivalents.

Moxi

[Mart]

Yep, supposedly massive lift capability and able to operate without runways, so great for moving stuff around to more remote locations. Theoretically these new airships have massive potential. Hope it all pans out.

[Joeboy]

Don't get me wrong. I would love to see these bad boys across the skies and killing the country's diesel burn for a percentage of freight moved. Yet the prototype ended in a schoolboy error when the ship broke its mooring lines and caved itself in. That doesn't bode well as all history of airships is already there for the learning..and they didn't.

In saying that, up uppitiy up up, gon the airships!

[Mr Gus]

Cardington,
Famed for the R101 /early airship builds since the 30''s
shed 1 was in excess of 4000 tonnes of iron framework.
Latterly iron maiden investment airship base.
Airlander.
The R101 was 777ft long ..these are BIG hangars I love them having had them in my sights early life, college days ..a place I pay silent homage to as I pass them.
Used today for all sorts of large stage, pre tour, films...

https://www.cardingtonstudios.com/ ...
Have a nosey at the pictures because you only ever tend to see distant shots from the outside.

Joeboys phrase was almost the "up tilly up, up" of those magnificent men in their flying machines, filmed at old warden / cardington tunnel, some of the film.planes are at the shuttleworth collection.

If passing the shuttleworth estate model village (old warden) is definitely worth a proper drive around.

The bleriot XI used to get a lot more air when we used t o watch here on calm days at college.