Airlander 10 Is Ready to Be Launched

The airship Airlander 10, the largest aircraft in the world, was unveiled for the first time this week, months before its first flight that will take place later this year, AFP informs

The device has floated in the air at nearly one meter above the ground in front of photographers in a vast shed located in the surroundings of Bedford, in the north of London. It has a length of 92 m, exceeding any airliner today.

The enormous prototype uses helium to lift into the air, where it can remain five days manned or two weeks without anyone on board, according to its builder, the company Hybrid Air Vehicles which wants to promote Airlander 10 for missions ranging from surveillance to transport.

No date has been set so far for the first flight, which will take place this year after the ground tests will be completed. Airlander was created according to a US Military contract, as they were in search of new means of surveillance for a program named Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV).

A prototype of the airship had made its first flight in 2012, but the Pentagon canceled the project because of technical difficulties and budgetary restrictions. Hybrid Air Vehicle recovered the device and then transferred him to UK. There a civilian version which became Airlander 10 was developed.

The company is also planning a project named Airlander 50, which will surpass in size the Airlander 10 and will be able to carry a load of 50 tons.