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Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 08 Sep 2017, 21:36
by SKB
Its fairly safe to fly high above a hurricane, and even in the 'eye', where there is very little turbulence. Airlander is rated for an altitude of 20,000 feet (6,100 metres)

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 18 Nov 2017, 16:20
by bobp
Airlander has broke free from its mooring and crashed. Possibly heavy damage and a couple of injuries.

Story Here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-be ... s-42037832

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 18 Nov 2017, 20:17
by SKB
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Hybrid Air Vehicles statement (18th November 2017):
Today there was an incident with the Airlander aircraft at Cardington airfield.

The aircraft was not flying at the time of the incident. Our initial assessment is that the aircraft broke free from its mooring mast for reasons that will be investigated. The aircraft has a safety system which operates automatically in circumstances of the aircraft breaking free of its mast, and is designed to rip open the hull and deflate the aircraft. This is a safety feature to ensure our aircraft minimises any potential damage to its surroundings in these circumstances. The aircraft is now deflated and secure on the edge of the airfield. The fuel and helium inside the Airlander have been made safe.

A member of HAV staff sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital for assessment as a precaution. She has since been discharged. A separate member of staff also sustained minor injuries while dealing with the aftermath of the incident.

A number of local roads and a local footpath were temporarily closed off by Bedfordshire Police and we apologise for any inconvenience this has caused local residents.

We are testing a brand new type of aircraft and incidents of this nature can occur during this phase of development. We will assess the cause of the incident and the extent of repairs needed to the aircraft in the next few weeks.
:cry:

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 18 Nov 2017, 20:42
by SKB
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(BBC)
The world's longest aircraft will be rebuilt after it collapsed hours after a successful test flight, the firm behind it said.
The Airlander 10 - a combination of a plane and an airship - collapsed on Saturday at its Bedfordshire base.

Owner Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd said the aircraft appeared to have broken its moorings, triggering a safety system which deflates it.
It said "the company will keep going" but that fundraising had been "paused".

An email to shareholders said: "We have paused for the time being collecting any payments in respect of the current fundraising and will be back in touch once we have determined our best course of action."

The damage assessment is expected to take "weeks" according to a spokesman. No-one was on board when the collapse happened, but two people on the ground suffered minor injuries.
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-be ... s-42052683

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 14 Jan 2019, 16:45
by SKB


Following the retirement of the prototype Airlander 10 after passing its flight tests, the Airlander 10 has received the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Production Organisation Approval and EASA Design Organisation Approval.

As of January 2019, the company is planning to manufacture a batch of certified, production standard Airlander 10 hybrid airships from a new facility elsewhere in Bedfordshire, having left its original Cardington hangar base.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-b ... s-46810151

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 15 Jan 2019, 09:51
by Timmymagic
Is there a facility that can match Cardington? What else is happening there? Presumably they'll return for flight trials.

i think the move to production versions is primarily as a result of them getting an insurance payout of £20m from the Airlander crash, they may as well go and build the real thing and see if it sells.

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 15 Jun 2022, 09:20
by Timmymagic
Well this is genuinely a pleasant surprise, I honestly thought it would be another 'airship' venture that quietly announced bankruptcy a few years down the road after the market didn't buy any...

Do wonder where in South Yorkshire they'll be, they've got a link up with Sheffield University.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... -yorkshire

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 15 Jun 2022, 09:30
by dmereifield
Fantastic news

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 15 Jun 2022, 11:04
by Caribbean
Shame they are moving from Bedford - it has such a long association with airships in the UK, both old and new. I have memories of clambering all over an, if IIRC, Airship Industries prototype in the Cardington Airsheds, sometime in the early 70s, when the weather was too bad to fly on our gliding course over at RAF Henlow.

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 15 Jun 2022, 12:14
by SKB

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 15 Jun 2022, 12:31
by Timmymagic
Caribbean wrote: 15 Jun 2022, 11:04 Shame they are moving from Bedford - it has such a long association with airships in the UK, both old and new. I have memories of clambering all over an, if IIRC, Airship Industries prototype in the Cardington Airsheds, sometime in the early 70s, when the weather was too bad to fly on our gliding course over at RAF Henlow.
I've honestly no idea why they would have moved from Cardington, Can't imagine there are any facilities in the UK that are as useful. The sheds there are used a lot for rehearsals and sets for films though.

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 15 Jun 2022, 12:33
by Timmymagic
Air Nostrum are a 'real' company as well. Part of Iberia, fleet size of over 40 aircraft and revenue of c500m EUR a year.

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 15 Jun 2022, 13:42
by mr.fred
Timmymagic wrote: 15 Jun 2022, 12:31
I've honestly no idea why they would have moved from Cardington, Can't imagine there are any facilities in the UK that are as useful. The sheds there are used a lot for rehearsals and sets for films though.
Possibly the money from the film industry for renting the sheds is what’s covering them to make the airships?

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 15 Jun 2022, 15:18
by Caribbean
Timmymagic wrote: 15 Jun 2022, 12:31 The sheds there are used a lot for rehearsals and sets for films though.
I think it's just the #2 shed that is used for filming. To be fair though, with the way the UK film industry is going these days, they could probably fill #1 shed as well. They are massive spaces.

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 15 Jun 2022, 15:42
by Timmymagic
mr.fred wrote: 15 Jun 2022, 13:42 Possibly the money from the film industry for renting the sheds is what’s covering them to make the airships?
Hangar 2 is owned by Cardington Studios, Hangar 1 is owned by Gallagher Developments. No idea what they'll be using it for, they'll never be allowed to pull it down for housing.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-b ... s-46211384

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 26 Mar 2024, 21:15
by RunningStrong
Plans to start production?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-s ... e-68639876

Wouldn't this be better done by Airlander?x


Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 27 Mar 2024, 12:52
by Ron5
Send a big balloon over a war zone. Sounds a good idea (eyes roll).

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 27 Mar 2024, 13:15
by RunningStrong
Ron5 wrote: 27 Mar 2024, 12:52 Send a big balloon over a war zone. Sounds a good idea (eyes roll).
Who would be shooting at it? With what weapons?

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 27 Mar 2024, 18:58
by mr.fred
RunningStrong wrote: 26 Mar 2024, 21:15 Wouldn't this be better done by Airlander?x
A Chinook could land almost the same amount vertically*, an Airlander might be able to land more depending on the model, but an Atlas ought to be able to drop more too. I suppose an Airlander might be able to go slower and lower, but at that point small arms would be a threat. Although such airships are surprisingly resilient to being riddled with small holes (low pressure and large size means that the leak rate is low). The crew, engines and avionics, not so much.

If they get around to making the really big Airlanders and you could secure a landing site long enough to offload it, that could be more handy for delivering aid, plus big bouncy-castle-looking airships appear friendlier than most military aircraft.

* Although landing in Gaza would seem... unwise.

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 28 Mar 2024, 07:10
by RunningStrong
mr.fred wrote: 27 Mar 2024, 18:58
RunningStrong wrote: 26 Mar 2024, 21:15 Wouldn't this be better done by Airlander?x
A Chinook could land almost the same amount vertically*.
If Chinook could have parachute dropped aid off the ramp I would think that would be more accurate than a400m. But, I don't think chinook has the volume underslung or internally for aid drops.

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 28 Mar 2024, 09:59
by Little J
RunningStrong wrote: 28 Mar 2024, 07:10
mr.fred wrote: 27 Mar 2024, 18:58
RunningStrong wrote: 26 Mar 2024, 21:15 Wouldn't this be better done by Airlander?x
A Chinook could land almost the same amount vertically*.
If Chinook could have parachute dropped aid off the ramp I would think that would be more accurate than a400m. But, I don't think chinook has the volume underslung or internally for aid drops.
Chinook has the same payload capacity as Airlander, it has double the cruise speed, you could land 2 of them in the space that Airlander would require and its already in the inventory.

Sorry mate, but I think you're thinking with your heart rather than your head here. There are things that an airship could do in the future, but this isn't really one of them.

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 28 Mar 2024, 12:33
by downsizer
A solution looking for a problem, nothing else.

Re: Airlander Airship

Posted: 28 Mar 2024, 12:39
by Ron5
RunningStrong wrote: 27 Mar 2024, 13:15
Ron5 wrote: 27 Mar 2024, 12:52 Send a big balloon over a war zone. Sounds a good idea (eyes roll).
Who would be shooting at it? With what weapons?
Same fkkrs that started this whole CF.