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The R. 101, 777 ft long with a total volume of 5. 5 million cubic feet
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The R. 101, 777 ft long with a total volume of 5. 5 million cubic feet
The R.101, 777 ft long with a total volume of 5.5 million cubic feet, was built by the Air Ministry for the Imperial airship scheme. It first flew on 14 October 1929, but subsequent test flights revealed numerous design faults.
Pictured here moored at the Royal Airship Works Cardington, Bedfordshire, before setting off on the 4th October 1930 to fly to Egypt and India.
Early the next morning over Beauvais, near Paris, an unexplained dive caused the airship to strike the ground.
Of the 54 people onboard, only six survived; the dead including Lord Thompson Secretary of State for Air and Sir Sefton Brancker Director of Civil Aviation. This was a devastating blow to the plan to introduce airships on the Empire routes from which they never recovered; all further development was then abandoned
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Mirrorpix
United Kingdom
Media ID 21369155
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EDITORS COMMENTS
The R. 101: A Tragic Tale of Ambition and Loss". This print captures the majestic presence of the ill-fated airship, The R. 101. Standing at an impressive 777 feet long and boasting a total volume of 5.5 million cubic feet, this colossal creation was built by the Air Ministry for the ambitious Imperial airship scheme. The image showcases The R. 101 moored at the Royal Airship Works Cardington in Bedfordshire, just before embarking on its fateful journey to Egypt and India on October 4th, 1930. Little did anyone know that this voyage would end in tragedy. Inexplicably, during the early hours over Beauvais near Paris, disaster struck as The R. 101 suddenly plunged towards the ground with no apparent cause or explanation. This catastrophic event claimed the lives of all but six individuals out of the 54 people onboard, including prominent figures such as Lord Thompson Secretary of State for Air and Sir Sefton Brancker Director of Civil Aviation. This devastating incident dealt a severe blow to plans for introducing airships on Empire routes from which they never recovered; ultimately leading to their abandonment altogether. As we gaze upon this haunting photograph from Mirrorpix's Memory Lane Prints collection, we are reminded not only of mankind's relentless pursuit for innovation but also of its vulnerability in face of unforeseen challenges within aviation history.
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