World's Largest Aircraft Takes Off For First Time
- 8 years ago
Wednesday marked the maiden flight of the Airlander 10, the largest aircraft in the world, and crowds gathered near London to watch it take to the skies.
Wednesday marked the maiden flight of the Airlander 10, the largest aircraft in the world, and crowds gathered near London to watch it take to the skies, reports The Telegraph.
According to NBC News, the combination blimp, plane, and helicopter developed by Hybrid Air Vehicles remained in the air for roughly 20 minutes, just a fraction of the time it’s designed to continue flight.
Packed with 1.3 million cubic feet of helium and outfitted with rotors and fixed wings, the 303-foot craft "can stay airborne for more than two weeks unmanned and up to five days if manned."
That combined with an ability to reach heights of 16,000 feet, notable fuel efficiency, and load capacity greater than a typical plane make it well suited for a variety of uses including surveillance and delivering aid to those in need.
Wednesday marked the maiden flight of the Airlander 10, the largest aircraft in the world, and crowds gathered near London to watch it take to the skies, reports The Telegraph.
According to NBC News, the combination blimp, plane, and helicopter developed by Hybrid Air Vehicles remained in the air for roughly 20 minutes, just a fraction of the time it’s designed to continue flight.
Packed with 1.3 million cubic feet of helium and outfitted with rotors and fixed wings, the 303-foot craft "can stay airborne for more than two weeks unmanned and up to five days if manned."
That combined with an ability to reach heights of 16,000 feet, notable fuel efficiency, and load capacity greater than a typical plane make it well suited for a variety of uses including surveillance and delivering aid to those in need.