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Airship R101 at alongside its mooring mast at Cardington
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Airship R101 at alongside its mooring mast at Cardington
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Airship Alongside Cardington Mast Mooring R101
EDITORS COMMENTS
Airship R101 at Cardington: A Feat of Aviation Engineering This photograph captures the majestic R101 airship, affectionately known as 'The Grand Old Lady of the Skies,' as it gracefully rests alongside its mooring mast at the Cardington Airship Works in Bedfordshire, England. The image, taken in the late 1920s, showcases the R101's impressive size and stature, making it a true marvel of aviation engineering. The R101 was a rigid airship, designed and built by the Royal Airship Works, a subsidiary of the Royal Air Force. It was the largest airship in the world at the time, with a length of 228 meters (748 feet) and a volume of 102,000 cubic meters (3,600,000 cubic feet). The airship was intended for long-distance passenger and cargo transport, with a capacity for carrying up to 78 passengers and crew. The mooring mast, an essential component of the airship's ground handling system, is clearly visible in the background. It was used to secure the airship to the ground during deflation and to provide a stable point for the crew to attach ropes during inflation. The mast was an engineering feat in itself, standing at a height of over 100 meters (328 feet) and weighing several hundred tons. The R101 made its maiden flight on October 4, 1930, but its short life was marked by tragedy. On October 7, 1930, during its return journey from a goodwill mission to India, the airship crashed in France, killing 44 of the 54 people on board. The disaster marked the end of the RAF's airship program and the R101 remains a poignant reminder of the risks and challenges faced by early aviators.
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