Britain has unveiled the world's largest aircraft a 300 feet long monster which is part plane, airship and helicopter, capable of flying non-stop for three weeks without refueling.
This £60 million new airship is about 60 feet longer than
the biggest airliners, the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8.
Plans are to include two hovercraft type vehicles to the
bottom so that the plane can land safely even on water. Capable of carrying 50
passengers on board, the company developing it says it is expected to transport
50 tons of freight.
Once completed for flight later in this year, the
aircraft will be even bigger 390 feet long, 196 feet wide and 115 feet high and
making it taller than London's iconic clock tower the Big Ben.
It has been created by Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd (HAV). The
plane has had a test flight on American skies. Originally developed for the US
military, the helium-filled hybrid Airlander project was scrapped owing to
budget cuts. The British company now developing it believes the aircraft will
change air travel forever because of the low levels of fuel use and noise
pollution.
