Airlander 10, 'The Flying Bum,' Crashes During Test Flight

function onPlayerReadyVidible(e){'undefined'!=typeof HPTrack&&HPTrack.Vid.Vidible_track(e)}!function(e,i){if(e.vdb_Player){if('object'==typeof commercial_video){var a='',o='m.fwsitesection='+commercial_video.site_and_category;if(a+=o,commercial_video['package']){var c='&m.fwkeyvalues=sponsorship%3D'+commercial_video['package'];a+=c}e.setAttribute('vdb_params',a)}i(e.vdb_Player)}else{var t=arguments.callee;setTimeout(function(){t(e,i)},0)}}(document.getElementById('vidible_1'),onPlayerReadyVidible); Airlander 10, a massive aircraft that critics saidlooked like a giant, flying butt, crashed after its second test flight in Bedfordshire, England, on Wednesday.No one was injured in the incident.The Airlander experienced a heavy landing and the front of the flight deck has sustained some damage which is currently being assessed, Hybrid Air Vehicles, the company developing the aircraft, said in a statement.The flight went really well and the only issue was when it landed, a company spokesperson to the BBC.At 302 feet long, the Airlander 10 is 50 feet longer than the largest configuration of the Boeing 747.However, its also been nicknamed The Flying Bum by the British media because it looks as much like a derriere as it does a dirigible:Originally developed by the U.S. military,Airlander 10 combined the best characteristics of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters with lighter-than-air technology, the company said.The Airlander can fly for five days with a crew, and up to two weeks if unmanned. It can handle communication, carry cargo and perform surveys for military and commercial purposes.No timetable for repairs or future flights was announced. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
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