+John. Subscriber¹ Posted August 24, 2016 Subscriber¹ Share Posted August 24, 2016 Whoops! Quote The world’s largest aircraft, a part-plane, part-airship hybrid being developed in the UK, has crashed during its second test flight. The 92-metre-long (302ft) Airlander 10 was damaged during the flight from RAF Cardington airfield, Bedfordshire, with photographs showing it on the ground with its nose pointing towards the floor. Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), which is developing the Airlander 10, denied reports it had crashed into a telegraph pole in nearby fields. The company tweeted: “Airlander sustained damage on landing during today’s flight. No damage was sustained mid-air or as a result of a telegraph pole as reported. We’re debriefing following the second test flight this morning. All crew are safe and well and there are no injuries”. The £25m aircraft was first developed as a surveillance aircraft for the US army’s Long Endurance Multi-intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) programme. It was to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to support ground troops, and a first flight took place in 2012 before the programme was cancelled in 2013. HAV then reacquired the aircraft and brought it to RAF Cardington where it was reassembled and modified for civilian use. Powered by four diesel engine-driven propellers, the company claims it could be used for a variety of functions, including surveillance, communications, transporting freight, delivering aid and passenger travel. HAV claims the aircraft, which is 44 metres wide and 26 metres high will be able to stay airborne for about five days during manned flights, and hopes to be building up to 10 Airlanders a year from 2021. The Airlander is about 15 metres longer than the biggest passenger jets, and uses helium to become airborne, travelling at speeds of up to 92mph. It successfully completed its first test flight on 17 August, performing one lap of the airfield before landing about half-an-hour later. It is to undergo about 200 hours of test flights. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/24/worlds-biggest-aircraft-crashes-bedfordshire-airlander-10 Draggendrop 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mirumir Subscriber¹ Posted August 24, 2016 Subscriber¹ Share Posted August 24, 2016 It looked like a soft-hard landing to me I suspect the best course of action for those on board (in the absence of other options) would be to jump off just before the touch down. FunkyMike 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim K Global Moderator Posted August 24, 2016 Global Moderator Share Posted August 24, 2016 Scared me for a sec. Thought the An-225 went down. +Mirumir and Draggendrop 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arachno 1D Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 (edited) Just a test of the airbags nothin to see here move along it will buff out FunkyMike 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted August 25, 2016 Veteran Share Posted August 25, 2016 7 hours ago, jjkusaf said: Scared me for a sec. Thought the An-225 went down. I thought the same thing....thinking that they will have to complete the other one real quick. On a side note, always loved airships. This one may need a landing rollbar/bumper for next flight. +Mirumir and Jim K 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arachno 1D Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Yea kinda poor crash protection for the cabin in nose down attitude especially vulnerable in windy down drafts. Draggendrop 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendy oltman Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Always have been scared of plane crashes. I have flying phobia and every time I travel this is my biggest concern. And cherry on cake, this video made my suspicions more positive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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