The Airlander 10, the largest aircraft in the world, broke free from its moorings and fell to the ground

Yesterday the Airlander 10, the largest aircraft in the world, broke free from its moorings at the airfield in Bedfordshire, United Kingdom. A safety rip panel was automatically pulled so that it deflated and fell to the ground. Nobody was on board but two people received minor injuries in the incident.

The Hybrid Air Vehicles HAV 304 / Airlander 10 is a hybrid airship designed and built by British manufacturer Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV). Comprising a helium airship with auxiliary wing and tail surfaces, it flies using both aerostatic and aerodynamic lift and is powered by four diesel engine-driven ducted propellers. The Airlander 10 is the largest aircraft flying today.

The HAV 304 was originally built for the United States Army’s Long Endurance Multi-intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) programme. In 2012, the HAV 304 conducted its maiden flight at Lakehurst, New Jersey, in the United States. In 2013, the LEMV project was cancelled by the US Army.

HAV reacquired the airship and brought it back to RAF Cardington in England. It was reassembled and modified for civilian use, and in this form was redesignated as the Airlander 10. In 2016, the airship returned to the skies. (wikipedia: Hybrid Air Vehicles HAV 304/Airlander 10)

Featured image by Philbobagshot – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link