Airlander-10, the world's largest aircraft aka 'the flying bum', takes off on maiden flight

The 302ft-long Airlander 10, or 'the Flying Bum', is part plane, part helicopter, and part airship and has been branded as the world's largest aircraft. It has taken off successfully on its maiden voyage from Cardington airfield in Bedfordshire. It was its first since a revamp in Britain.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 18 August 2016.

Its bulbous exterior has earned it the less-than-glamorous nickname of 'the flying bum'. Its developers Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) have labeled the ship as a 'great British innovation' after the flight. It was a modern milestone in airships, which ended with the Hindenburg disaster in 1937.
The Airlander is a combination of an aircraft that has parts of normal fixed-wing aircraft, it has got helicopter, and also airship. It has been designed to use less fuel than a plane and has the ability to carry heavier loads than conventional airships.
HAV say it can reach 16,000 feet, travel at up to 90 mph and stay aloft for up to two weeks. Unlike hydrogen which is the gas used in the Hindenburg, Airlander uses helium which is not flammable. It could operate in wind speeds of 80 knots and can provide air transportation for people and goods without the need for a runway.
It has immense prospects and HAV are confident of getting plenty of customers — both civilian and military — because of its potential to gather data and conduct surveillance for days on end. It can carry up to 10 metric tons (22,050 pounds) of passengers or cargo. The company has hopes to have an even bigger aircraft that would be capable of carrying 50 metric tons (110,000 pounds) and it could be in service by the early 2020s.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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