AIRLANDER MAST BREAK AWAY AND RIP DEFLATION.
On the morning of Saturday the 18th of November 2017 The Hybrid Air Vehicle Airlander suffered a mooring mast break away, on the ship breaking away from the mast the automatic rip system cut in and safely expelled the majority of the helium through a large rip in the envelope. This system has been encorporated in lighter than air non rigid aircraft for nearly 100 years in one form or another. I believe Airlanders version due to her immense size utilises a unique compressed gas system, it worked well.
There was however in the ends of the ship some helium remaining, this was needed to be vented out and cuts were made to vent the remaining gas.
Fuel was also drained from the ship as she was seccured.
2 people were injured in the incident but have since been released from hospital.
Now a full assessment of the ship and recovery will take place, weeks of hard graft lay ahead.
I wish all those hard working people at Hybrid Air Vehicles the best of luck on getting the old girl airborn again. They have put blood sweat and tears into this ship and I support them all the way.
There was however in the ends of the ship some helium remaining, this was needed to be vented out and cuts were made to vent the remaining gas.
Fuel was also drained from the ship as she was seccured.
2 people were injured in the incident but have since been released from hospital.
Now a full assessment of the ship and recovery will take place, weeks of hard graft lay ahead.
I wish all those hard working people at Hybrid Air Vehicles the best of luck on getting the old girl airborn again. They have put blood sweat and tears into this ship and I support them all the way.