https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg-RPTiVa_Q
Airlander 10, the massive aircraft billed as the world’s largest, flew for 100 minutes on its second test flight Wednesday, but the last minute was a bit painful to watch.
A YouTube video of the 302-foot-long craft’s return to earth at Cardington Airfield, north of London, showed the Airlander 10 going nose down before what seemed like a gentle bumping of the ground. The 44,100-pound helium-filled aircraft actually crunched the flight deck, and Hybrid Air Vehicles, makers of the Airlander, issued a statement saying the pilots and ground crew were “safe and well.”
Today the prototype Airlander 10 undertook its second test flight and flew for 100 minutes, completing all the planned tasks before returning to Cardington to land. The Airlander experienced a heavy landing and the front of the flight deck has sustained some damage which is currently being assessed. Both pilots and the ground crew are safe and well and the aircraft is secured and stable at its normal mooring location. Hybrid Air Vehicles runs a robust set of procedures for flight test activities and investigation of issues. We will be running through these in the days ahead as we continue the development of the Airlander aircraft. Further updates will follow in due course.
Spectators away from the airfield watching the landing can be heard exclaiming, in mostly reserved British tones, as the Airlander 10 came in crooked and hit the ground. “Wow” and “Oh, dear” and “Oh my God, he’s actually just broken it” can be heard off camera in the video uploaded by Lee Cordell.
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.
— Hybrid Air Vehicles (@AirVehicles) August 24, 2016
Airlander 10 complete its maiden voyage just a week ago, on Aug. 17.
Hybrid Air Vehicles, a privately held UK company, says the craft uses “innovative technology to combine the best characteristics of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters with lighter-than-air technology to create a new breed of hyper-efficient aircraft.”
Airlander 10 can stay airborne for up to five days at a time if manned, and for over 2 weeks unmanned. “It will fulfill a wide range of communication, cargo carrying and survey roles in both the military and commercial sectors all with a significantly lower carbon footprint than other forms of air transport,” the HAV website says.
