The airship was due to take off from Cardington Airfield, Befordshire, around 6pm Sunday. However, it is believed pilots made the call to postpone the test flight, as initial test flights must happen during daylight hours, and there were concerns that light would be lost before the aircraft could land.
Hopes to try again are currently being hampered by the predicted weather in coming days - though the team is likely to seize any opportunity for a maiden flight if it is deemed safe to do so.
The Airlander has been developed by engineers at the UK’s largest hanger at an estimated cost of £25 million, to bring large cargo carrying capabilities to the air. The Bristish firm behind the build, Hybrid Air Vehicle (HAV), says its Airlander concept will produce less noise, less pollution, have a lower carbon footprint, longer endurance and better cargo-carrying capacity than any other flying vehicle currently in use.
The huge aircraft will be able to stay airborne for around five days during manned flights and will be used for applications that include surveillance, communications, disaster relief, overland heavy cargo deliver and even passenger flight. The aircraft is 92m in length, making it the world’s largest aircraft.
