World’s biggest aircraft crashes during test flight
The world’s largest aircraft, Airlander 10, crashed on Wednesday in eastern England during its second test flight since being revamped in the United Kingdom.
Airlander 10, the 92-metre-long and USD-33-million part plane - part helicopter, part airship - was damaged after reportedly hitting a telegraph pole at its base at Cardington airfield in Bedfordshire. All crew are safe and well and there are no injuries, a statement on Facebook by maker Hybrid Air Vehicle said.
The Airlander, christened Martha Gwyn, was first developed for the US government as a long-endurance surveillance aircraft, but the British firm launched a campaign to return the craft to the skies after it fell foul of defence cutbacks. It is nearly 15 metres longer than the biggest passenger jets and uses helium to become airborne, travelling at speeds of up to 92mph.
The Airlander successfully completed its first test flight without incident on August 17. It performed one lap of the airfield before landing about half an hour later.
