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Airlander
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 16 4:01 pm
by Demon James
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

"
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 16 4:04 pm
by Blue
Might go on Sunday, I'll have a shufti at that if I do.
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 16 10:28 pm
by drewcrane
Looks like a lead balloon,......sorry had to

Posted: Sat Aug 13, 16 7:54 am
by MattH
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.
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 16 12:51 pm
by Demon James

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

Posted: Sat Aug 13, 16 7:10 pm
by andyrob
I bet thats some sight to see

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 16 2:18 am
by RobTwin
So has that been completely built up at Cardington? If so, which hangar/shed - the one that's recently been refurbed or t'other?
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 16 10:16 pm
by Demon James
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, £25 and your name goes on it 🙂
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
Posted: Tue Aug 16, 16 4:58 pm
by Jon
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.
Posted: Tue Aug 16, 16 10:40 pm
by Demon James
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

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 16 11:52 pm
by drewcrane
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?
Posted: Wed Aug 17, 16 7:56 am
by latil
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 × 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)
Posted: Wed Aug 17, 16 8:46 am
by Demon James
Here's the profiles

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 16 1:40 pm
by drewcrane
Nice thanks for the comparison, this thing is till as long as a football field, huge ,I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT IN PERSON

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 16 8:21 am
by Demon James
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.