Post by andypspotter on May 10, 2017 20:43:12 GMT
The Airlander hybrid airship has flown again nine months after crashing on its second test flight. The world’s largest flying structure – built by Hybrid Air Vehicles – lifted from her moorings at Cardington airfield in the UK at 17.28 local time on 10 May, landing again after a flight of around 2h 45min.
Hybrid Air Vehicles tweeted regularly during the flight, posting photographs and updates.
The Airlander had left her hangar on 7 April, where she had been undergoing repairs and safety enhancements since the 24 August hard landing.
Additional safety features include a new winch system and “air bags” to to protect the cabin during a high-attitude touchdown.
Although HAV says the hiatus has cost £7 million ($8.7 million), the Bedford-based company remains upbeat about prospects for the 92m-long hybrid airship, insisting the delay has provided the opportunity to fine-tune the design. HAV has also outlined details of its strategy to become profitable – in the short-term using the prototype as a platform for research, and longer-term by entering production, with the company confident of signing up an overseas military launch customer in the next few months.
Hybrid Air Vehicles tweeted regularly during the flight, posting photographs and updates.
The Airlander had left her hangar on 7 April, where she had been undergoing repairs and safety enhancements since the 24 August hard landing.
Additional safety features include a new winch system and “air bags” to to protect the cabin during a high-attitude touchdown.
Although HAV says the hiatus has cost £7 million ($8.7 million), the Bedford-based company remains upbeat about prospects for the 92m-long hybrid airship, insisting the delay has provided the opportunity to fine-tune the design. HAV has also outlined details of its strategy to become profitable – in the short-term using the prototype as a platform for research, and longer-term by entering production, with the company confident of signing up an overseas military launch customer in the next few months.