Airlander

Demon James · Post by **Demon James** » Fri Aug 12, 16 4:01 pm

If anyone is heading out this way at the weekend for the NSHSRHSAHRSA nationals at Old Warden, Bedfordshire.

The Airlander (huge flying bottom, giant suppository, Dolly Parton of the skies etc etc) is still out of the hanger and moored next to a field thats 5 mins from Old Warden via the country roads, just a thought if it "floats anyones boat

"

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Fri Aug 12, 16 4:04 pm

Might go on Sunday, I'll have a shufti at that if I do.

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Fri Aug 12, 16 10:28 pm

Looks like a lead balloon,......sorry had to

Post by **MattH** » Sat Aug 13, 16 7:54 am

If you go to look at it go on the back road between Old Warden and Cardington Village, there is room to stop on the corner just at the edge of the field to park and walk up to the unofficial viewing area. Well worth a look, we went at sunset 2 days ago.

Demon James · Post by **Demon James** » Sat Aug 13, 16 12:51 pm

Thats where I took these pics from and had a good natter through the fence with a guy who installed the rudders and control cables.

He said it was the first time in two years that he had been able to stand far enough away to see the whole thing

andyrob · Post by **andyrob** » Sat Aug 13, 16 7:10 pm

I bet thats some sight to see

RobTwin · Post by **RobTwin** » Sun Aug 14, 16 2:18 am

So has that been completely built up at Cardington? If so, which hangar/shed - the one that's recently been refurbed or t'other?

Demon James · Post by **Demon James** » Sun Aug 14, 16 10:16 pm

As I understand it, it is a U military project that was very near completion then had its funding stopped.

A British company now.have it and completed it for a wide variety of uses. A lot of the funding has come from a lifetime membership of the Airliner club, Â£25 and your name goes on it ðŸ™‚

It was due to fly for the first time today at 17:00 but it was aborted due to "technical issues"

Scheduled for later in the week now. I will be keeping my peepers open as it's only down the road from my workshop and I pass it most days

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Tue Aug 16, 16 4:58 pm

Went out for a look while I was in the area, it's a big 'un.
A quick google tells me though that it's not even half the size of the old zeppelins/R101 etc... they must have been quite a sight to see.

Demon James · Post by **Demon James** » Tue Aug 16, 16 10:40 pm

Yeah, there was great article on the club site showing a scale comparison between the R101 and the Airlander, would have made this look like a toy.

To think that the R101 was full of hydrogen as well

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Tue Aug 16, 16 11:52 pm

Demon James wrote:Yeah, there was great article on the club site showing a scale comparison between the R101 and the Airlander, would have made this look like a toy.

To think that the R101 was full of hydrogen as well

So I can get a perspective ,how long is this one?

latil · Post by **latil** » Wed Aug 17, 16 7:56 am

This is off wiki Capacity: 10,000 kg (22,050 lb)
Length: 92 m (301 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 43.5 m (142 ft 9 in)
Height: 26 m (85 ft 4 in)
Volume: 38,000 m3 (1,300,000 cu ft)
Gross weight: 20,000 kg (44,092 lb)
Powerplant: 4 Ã— 4 litre V8 turbocharged diesel engines, 242 kW (325 hp) each
Performance

Cruising speed: 148 km/h (92 mph; 80 kn)
Endurance: 5 days manned
Service ceiling: 6,100 m (20,013 ft)
Loiter speed 20 knots (37 km/h)

Demon James · Post by **Demon James** » Wed Aug 17, 16 8:46 am

Here's the profiles

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Wed Aug 17, 16 1:40 pm

Nice thanks for the comparison, this thing is till as long as a football field, huge ,I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT IN PERSON

Demon James · Post by **Demon James** » Thu Aug 18, 16 8:21 am

First flight yesterday evening and I was working a mile away and missed it, just a lap of the field apparently so the views would have been great.

Never mind, it's on the doorstep so I'm sure I'll see it soon enough.