Airlander 10: 92m-long aircraft to fly in UK skies for first time | Home News | News | The Independent
A groundbreaking aircraft, thought to be one of the biggest ever made, will be taking off for its first test-flight in the UK in March.
The Airlander 10, an aeroplane and helicopter hybrid invention, measures 92m in length, 43.5m in width and 26m in height.
Developed by Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), the aircraft has the ability to fly at 20,000 feet. But for its maiden voyage, it will be restricted to gliding within 15 nautical-miles of its hangar in Cardington, Bedfordshire, flying no higher than 4,000ft, no faster than 45mph and for no longer than two hours.
But if all goes well in the gentle test-drive, it could mark the start of a new era of passenger-flying, said Chris Daniels, head of partnerships at HAV.
“It’s absolutely in our plans [to transport passengers],” Mr Daniels told The Independent. “During the flight-test programme… we’re limited because it’s a prototype aircraft. Because it’s under flight-testing conditions, we cannot take passengers.”
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