Giant new dirigible takes to the air Friday, 19 August 2016

The new British airship Airlander 10, claimed to be the largest aircraft currently flying, has successfully completed its first flight, a short 15 minute jaunt around an airfield in Bedfordshire.

The vehicle is 92 m long, 43.5 m wide, 26 m high and contains no rigid internal skeleton. Like airships of old, it relies on the pressure of gas (helium, rather than the highly flammable hydrogen used in zeppelins like the Hindenburg) inside its laminated fabric construction hull to maintain its shape. Inside the hull there is some compartmentalisation, meaning a breach of the hull is not necessarily going to cause a loss of the aircraft.

Powered by four 350 hp, four-litre, direct injection, turbocharged diesel engines, the Airlander can land on almost any surface, including water. Pneumatic tubes form skids on either side of the outer hulls. These skids are vacuumed inwards during flight, in order to create a clean profile. A cruise speed of 80 knots up to an altitude of 6100 m is matched with a payload capacity of up to 10 t. The Airlander 10 can stay airborne for two weeks unmanned and five days with crew.

Chief Test Pilot Dave Burns said it reached an altitude of 150 m and a top speed of 35 knots.

“It was a privilege to fly the Airlander for the first time and it flew wonderfully," said Burns. "I’m really excited about getting it airborne. It flew like a dream.”

After this the aircraft will begin a series of trials and demonstrations with prospective customers. The company behind the Airlander, Hybrid Air Vehicles, said customer interest is strong due to its stable platform with large amounts of power and space for search & rescue or communications equipment, and its potential to offer a unique passenger experience.

[The Airlander 10 hovers near the crowd at Cardington Airfield. Photo: Hybrid Air Vehicles]

Transport/Infrastructure will be a major topic of discussion at the Australian Engineering Conference 2016 in Brisbane on November 23-25.