The world’s longest aircraft had its first flight postponed at the last minute due to safety concerns.
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However, officials said the airship experienced a “slight technical issue”, causing the flight’s cancellation.
“Chief executive, Stephen McGlennan of Hybrid Air Vehicles, stated that the blimp had “a minor technical issue” and there wasn’t enough time to fix it before dark”.
British firm Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) launched a campaign to return the Airlander 10 to the skies in May 2015. He did not disclose when the Airlander 10’s maiden flight would be rescheduled.
The Airlander 10 – part plane, part airship – was due to take off from Cardington Airfield in Bedfordshire on Sunday but a “technical issue” meant they had to abort the test for safety reasons. It’s created to use less fuel than a plane, but carry heavier loads than conventional airships.
The aircraft, which can reportedly travel at up to 90 miles per hour and stay in the air for nearly two weeks, was originally developed for the US military. It can stay aloft for up to two weeks.
Hybrid Air Vehicles was supposed to develop the Airlander 10 for the United States military, which plans to use it as surveillance in Afghanistan. The U. blimp programme was scrapped in 2013, and since then the airship’s developer has sought funding from government agencies and individual donors.
Unlike hydrogen, the gas which is used in the Hindenburg, helium isn’t flammable.
The 1930 crash and other accidents, including the fiery crash in New Jersey in 1937 of the Hindenburg, which killed 35 people, dashed the dream of turning the airship as a means of transportation.
Claiming that the airships that have been ruled out in the past have a bright future, McGlennan said before the glitch was discovered, “It’s a disruptive capability”.
“It’s a disruptive capability”, he said, likening it to the electric auto a technology finally making a long-elusive breakthrough into mass use thanks to Elon Musk’s Tesla.
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“Something that is disruptive is always long, and is always a winding road”, he said.
