We’ve all heard the news about Airlander 10’s crash landing during a test flight last August 2016. We thought that that was the end of the project that was abandoned by the Pentagon last 2012. The Airlander 10 was originally designed as a military surveillance vehicle but was shifted to another direction around 2 years ago. After the British government decided to help with the funding for the project, the Airlander 10 re-launched again in 2015 and this year it reached new heights.
Source: Popular Mechanics, Airlander 10 crashing August last year
Airlander 10 is a 302-foot-long aircraft that’s helium powered. It was shifted into trials for commercial use by British funding and has undergone numerous test flights to see if it’s good to go. Last June 13, 2017, Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) officially announced on their Twitter that the ship has reached a top record of 3700 feet, which was the highest the Airlander has ever gone during test flights. Another bit of good news? They didn’t crash this time.
Source: Twitter, Hybrid Air Vehicles
With this milestone, HAV is looking at Airlander 10’s future endeavors. It’s only going to keep rising from now on. The company’s fiasco last year led to numerous improvements and modifications that placed the Airlander 10 where it is today. The first successful test flight was done last month, and their record (3500 ft) was broken last Tuesday. The last 200 feet was pushed at the very end, right before the aircraft prepared for landing.
Source: Hybrid Air Vehicles
The flight test kicked-off at around 6:12pm (local time) and soared the sky for 3 hours and 23 minutes. It’s still a small step compared to HAV’s promise of a 5-day operating period with a payload of 10 tonnes. While the Pentagon abandoned it as a military project, HAV promised its value for coast guards, telecom systems, geo-surveying, and border patrols.
It’s only a matter of time before the Airlander 10 flies freely. Its going to be featured next week at the Paris Air Show, along with related aerospace and aviation technologies.
You won’t have to wait long to see more of the Airlander 10—it will be making an appearance next week at the Paris Air Show, along with other other aviation and aerospace outfits.
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