This is not to say there is no future for such craft, indeed, as we have pointed out many times these craft can literally be lifesavers in certain conditions where terrain is too hazardous for conventional vehicles. The truth is however that this will always be a limited market, and with several projects underway around the world, and with advancing technologies, the first to produce a safe, off the shelf, lighter than air carriage craft, will dominate the field, but only if it carries a reasonable price tag and has suitable back up in the form of continued maintenance.
Today’s accident happened on just the second test flight for Airlander as she returned to her Cardington, Bedford home base. At 92 metres overall the airship claims the title of longest airborne craft in the world and it is based on an original US military design which was scrapped for lack of funds. The accident today damaged the cockpit (and it didn’t do a lot for the telegraph pole) but no comment was available from the developers HAV at this stage.
Photo: The underslung cockpit of the Airlander before, and after, the crash.
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