Originally, the hybrid airship was designed for long-range surveillance for the US military surveillance. However, in February 2013, the US Army grounded the project because of its high cost.
Earlier, the flight was scheduled on August 14 but was delayed because of a "technical issue," British firm Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), creator of the Airlander, said.
The giant 20-ton aircraft spent 20 minutes in the air, after months of flight preparations and years of searching for funding. Part plane, part helicopter and part airship, the huge aircraft was dubbed "the Flying Bum" for its bulbous leading-end shape reminiscent of a human derriere.
The Airlander stretches as long as a soccer field and is as high as a nine-story apartment building — it measures 92 meters in length, which is about 15 meters longer than the biggest passenger jets. The Airlander 10 will be able to fly at an altitude of 4.9 kilometers and develop 148 km/h cruising speed and stay airborne for around five days during manned flights.
Airlander 10 is a helium-filled craft. It can stay airborne for up to five days at a time if manned, and over two weeks unmanned.
Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) claims it may be used for a variety of purposes such as surveillance, communications, delivering aid and even passenger travel. The aircraft's upgrading cost the British $3.7 million.
Photo: The Airlander 10 in a matter of minutes of its first take off.
In 1930, the airship R101 took off from the same airfield. It crashed on 5 October in France during its maiden overseas voyage, killing about 50 people.
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