Engineering news
The world’s largest aircraft, Airlander, has taken to the air after being filled with helium.
The 92 metre-long aircraft had its first helium fill at its hangar in Cardington, Bedfordshire on 31 October. The aircraft was able to float a few metres above the ground as well as 'walk' the entire length of the 248 metre hangar, pulled along by fork-lift trucks.
According to developer Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), Airlanders are low noise, low pollution, and environmentally-friendly. Once operational, the aircraft will be able to carry up to 10 tonnes of cargo and fly half way round the world on a single tank of fuel. Furthermore, Airlander can take off and land from a range of remote environments including water, desert, ice and fields.
During the months of November and December, the key parts of the Airlander including the engines, fins and mission module will be finalised and integrated onto the aircraft. From early 2016 a series of ground tests will take place inside and outside the hangar ready for the first flight during the first quarter of 2016. The airship will have its engines, fins and mission module reattached by the end of 2015.
HAV believes the global market for green aircraft technology will be worth £30 billion and will create 1,800 jobs in the UK in the next five years. The company has already secured over £60 million of customer funding, more than £6 million of grants and over £12 million of equity funding. Further funding is being raised now ahead of a planned Initial Public Offering on the smaller company’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM).
Earlier this year, HAV hit the £1 million in a crowdfunding exercise for the Airlander range. The money helped to develop the Airlander 10, designed to stay airborne for up to five days at a time to fulfil a wide range of communication and survey roles, as well as cargo carrying and tourist passenger flights.
Mike Durham, HAV’s technical director, said: “Seeing the Airlander come to life and floating was simply breath-taking. This is a key moment for the UK’s aerospace industry in getting this unique aircraft ready for flight.”