R101: A Very British Cock-Up
Tuesday marks the 80th anniversary of the R101 disaster. On 5th October 1930, the British dirigible crashed in France en route to Karachi, killing 48 of the 55 people on board. Despite being fitted with diesel engines (no sparks), she burned on the ground for 24 hours.
The R101 account is an interesting one, not least in making the comparison between public versus private finance. R101 was built at the expense of the public purse (“the Socialist Airship”) while its counterpart, R100, was constructed privately by the Vickers company. R100, despite a successful maiden test flight, was scrapped following the disaster.
The whole R101 story is farcical from start to sorry finish.
From what I know the reason for developing the airship was it’s perceived military use. One can only imagine the debacle if the airship had been used in WWII. The airship, inherently was doomed to disaster, or am I being clever after the event?
I don’t think you are. I’m rather surprised that they had so many unresolved teething problems with stability, given that airships by then were pretty established technology.
The thing was publicly funded, so I imagine that there was big egg-on-face potential for all concerned. A bit like the Millennium Dome, it probably got beyond the point of no return and many people realised that there was trouble in store, but I’m guessing, would need to read up more on it.
I would love to see airships make a big comeback, and yes, using hydrogen. Alas, they appear be restricted to helium blimps used for advertising, corporate joy rides and taking sexy overhead shots at golf championships.
In the 80s there was a company called Airship Industries based in Chiswick, owned by disgraced Aussie businessman Alan Bond, but they went bust in 1990.
Concorde and dirigibles: two of the greatest advances in public transportation since the Wright brothers – lost. Forever?
Aah, but ze Germans made wundarbar airships. Ze famous LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin (Deutsches Luftschiff Zeppelin #127) go around the world!
Thanks, Lore, just looked it up. That was a formidible vehicle with an amazing story of success, in stark contrast to R101.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LZ_127_Graf_Zeppelin