R.101 Airship History
In 1930 the R.101 Airship was the worlds largest flying vessel at 777 feet long (237 metres).
It set off on its maiden overseas voyage to Karachi, India at approx. 18.30 hours g.m.t. 4th Oct 1930 and came down in bad weather at 02.09 hours g.m.t. 5th Oct 1930 on a hillside near Beauvais, France.
A fire broke out and exploded the gas bags resulting in the death of 48 of the 54 persons on board including the Right Honourable Lord Thomson (Secretary of State for Air) and Sir Sefton Brancker (Director of Civil Aviation).
There is worldwide interest in the story surrounding the R101 and it is often referred to the "Titanic of the skies" due to the similarities that exist between the two disasters.
In 1930 the R.101 Airship was the worlds largest flying vessel at 777 feet long (237 metres).
It set off on its maiden overseas voyage to Karachi, India at approx. 18.30 hours g.m.t. 4th Oct 1930 and came down in bad weather at 02.09 hours g.m.t. 5th Oct 1930 on a hillside near Beauvais, France.
A fire broke out and exploded the gas bags resulting in the death of 48 of the 54 persons on board including the Right Honourable Lord Thomson (Secretary of State for Air) and Sir Sefton Brancker (Director of Civil Aviation).
There is worldwide interest in the story surrounding the R101 and it is often referred to the "Titanic of the skies" due to the similarities that exist between the two disasters.