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Home » World News » The Flying Bum aka Airlander 10 crashes during second flight test
 
SPEED NEWS

The Flying Bum aka Airlander 10 crashes during second flight test

Speed News Desk | Updated on: 10 February 2017, 1:47 IST

Airlander 10, the world's largest aircraft, 92m-long, part helicopter and part airship has crashed during its second test flight, on 24 August.

Nicknamed 'The Flying Bum' because of its pert, round back - crashed as it landed at its base at Cardington Airfield, on 24 August, at the end of its second attempt to fly, Independent reported. Its official name is the Martha Gwyn - however, it gained notoriety not just because of its huge size but the interesting shape of its back.

HAF tweeted saying, "We're debriefing following the second test flight this morning," a spokesperson for the ship's makers, HAV, said. "All crew are safe and well and there are no injuries."

Airlander was first developed for the US government as a long-endurance surveillance aircraft. The British firm launched a campaign to return the craft to the sky after it fell foul of defence cutbacks.

The flight is about 50ft (15 metres) longer than the biggest passenger jets and uses helium to become airborne, travelling at speeds of up to 92mph.

The ship appears to have run into problems as it was making its way back onto the ground, when it flew into a telegraph pole and began running into problems.

Independent quoted an eyewitness as saying, "Then, as it came in to land, it seemed to nose dive and landed on the cockpit, smashing it up."

The ship is on sale for £25 million. The makers hope that it can be sold for a variety of uses - including surveillance, communications and deliveries.

First published: 24 August 2016, 7:39 IST
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