(Ben Guarino, Jason Aldag / The Washington Post)Just before twilight on Wednesday at Cardington Airfield in Bedfordshire, England, a giant airship took a buzzy first flight. This specific craft was christened the Martha Gwyn, named after the wife of Philip Gwyn, chairman of the airship manufacturing company Hybrid Air Vehicle. “It’s just so unusual.”Despite its gluteal countenance, the $40 million Airlander 10 is an impressive bit of aeronautical engineering. “Think of a big helicopter, a really giant helicopter,” said Hybrid Air Vehicle chief executive Stephen McGlennan to Sky News. The chimeric design was created by Hybrid Air Vehicle with the help of Northrop Grumman.

Source: Washington Post August 18, 2016 08:27 UTC