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get something heavy but not time critical into a distant remote location is by air |
The DoD cancelled the LEMV project with Northrop Grumman and HAV mainly due to macroeconomics and the politics of US National Debt at the time. The Obama Administration swung the axe, the DoD chose the cutting block. Programs that were viewed as not being strategically important, such as this, for reasons outlined by another poster above, were axed. Records show that not all DoD stakeholders agreed with all of the decisions, and this one was no exception, but cutbacks had to be made nonetheless.
Ironically, the climate of resource constraints allowed private companies to take advantage to the detriment of the US taxpayer; HAV repurchased the LEMV project for just $300k, despite reports of it costing upwards of USD $100m by that stage (admittedly not all aspects of the project were included in the sale). The economic case has not yet been demonstrated. Nor has the operational one. And there is no obvious demand for such a vehicle. However, only father time will tell and it is worth highlighting that the AirLander is not, as some posters suggest, a rerun of yesteryear. This is brand spanking new technology, never before attempted, never before utilised, and quite possibly never to see the commercial light of day. But AirLander is no AirShip! The 2001 patents are clear on that aspect (at least!)... |
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The flight deck is now back in place after major repairs and testing has begun inside a hangar at the airfield.
Airlander 10: Longest aircraft tested after crash repairs - BBC News |
Oh good. Something to brighten-up the UK news. I do hope that no-one gets hurt though!:uhoh:
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The linked article mentions it can operate up to
20,000 feet! Can you imagine what the winds would do to it? I'd never be in that thing that high! |
Yes, if the Germans and US can't manage it, what chance have some Brits got? Nice attitude. |
The AAIB report has appeared in Bulletin 3/2017.
https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...ull_3-2017.pdf scroll down to page 32 The odd thing is, it doesn’t really explain why the aircraft got into an 18º nosedown situation, although it does cover the events leading up to it. It also says Without the means of providing significant vertical thrust, the aircraft is not capable of true vertical landings (in calm or very light wind conditions). |
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Apparently the Airlander has taken another nosedive, according to a post on Facebook. All I know is that a link to a photo has been posted - linked below.
BREAKING NEWS: World?s biggest airliner ?nosedives into a field? after breaking free from its moorings just months after crashing on a test flight |
Complete nonsense, it hasn't been flying. It is sat happily on its mast just down the airfield from my office.
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Indeed, the photo seems to show it "happily on its mast", not nose diving into a field.
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Official statements:
"We have just seen reports in the media about Airlander pitching up at the rear by a small amount. This is a normal event which one can expect to see from time to time. It is something that Airlander is designed to do." "It didn't nosedive. It pivots on the mooring mast, and rotates and has some pitch around it too. It never "nosedives"." https://twitter.com/airvehicles |
Thanks all, glad all is OK. I posted in good faith.
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The European Aviation Safety Agency has granted the craft permission to fly.
This move follows the UK Civil Aviation Authority's Permit to Fly which was received a week ago. Airlander 10: Longest aircraft gets permission to fly again - BBC News |
Saw her outside at Cardington a couple of weeks ago, rather smart I must say:)
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Airlander 10 takes to skies for first time since crash...
The world's largest aircraft has successfully flown for the first time since it crash-landed nine months ago. The Airlander 10 - a combination of a plane and an airship - took off at 17:30 BST near its base at Cardington Airfield, Bedfordshire and landed safely at about 20:15 (May 10th 2017). The £25m aircraft nosedived during a test flight on 24 August. No-one was injured in the accident, but the airship's cockpit was effectively destroyed. Airlander 10 takes to skies for first time since crash - BBC News |
14th June 2017:-
The world's longest aircraft, Airlander 10, took off from Cardington and completed its fourth test flight last night - reaching the highest altitude it has attained so far. During the flight, which lasted about four hours, it reached 3,500ft (1,067m).The craft varied its speed to between 20 and 30 knots, measuring the acceleration and deceleration with the thousands of sensors on board. After doing a series of landing practice runs, Hybrid Air Vehicles said Airlander was "safely on the mast following a hugely successful flight" by 22:15. |
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