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| Airlander 10: World's longest aircraft retired | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The world's longest aircraft has been retired from service as developers prepare to start work on a new model. | |
| The £32m Airlander 10 - a combination of plane and airship - had completed six test flights before it collapsed to the ground in November 2017. | The £32m Airlander 10 - a combination of plane and airship - had completed six test flights before it collapsed to the ground in November 2017. |
| Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), based in Bedford, said it had received Civil Aviation Authority backing to start work on a new craft. | Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), based in Bedford, said it had received Civil Aviation Authority backing to start work on a new craft. |
| It is hoped the new model will take to the skies in the early 2020s. | It is hoped the new model will take to the skies in the early 2020s. |
| Stephen McGlennan, chief executive officer of HAV, said: "Our focus is now entirely on bringing the first batch of production standard, type certified Airlander 10 aircraft into service with customers. | Stephen McGlennan, chief executive officer of HAV, said: "Our focus is now entirely on bringing the first batch of production standard, type certified Airlander 10 aircraft into service with customers. |
| "The prototype served its purpose as the world's first full-sized hybrid aircraft, providing us with the data we needed to move forward from prototype to production standard. | "The prototype served its purpose as the world's first full-sized hybrid aircraft, providing us with the data we needed to move forward from prototype to production standard. |
| "As a result, we do not plan to fly the prototype aircraft again." | "As a result, we do not plan to fly the prototype aircraft again." |
| HAV submitted a £32m insurance claim after Airlander 10 collapsed, which it told shareholders was the "maximum insured value". | HAV submitted a £32m insurance claim after Airlander 10 collapsed, which it told shareholders was the "maximum insured value". |
| The company said it had already had the design of the next airship approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency. | The company said it had already had the design of the next airship approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency. |
| It said this now puts them in a "strong position to launch production". | It said this now puts them in a "strong position to launch production". |
| The company carried out its first test flight of Airlander 10 from its former home at Cardington Airfield in August 2016 but left the site in June last year. | The company carried out its first test flight of Airlander 10 from its former home at Cardington Airfield in August 2016 but left the site in June last year. |
| In July, HAV revealed that it is to offer "luxury expeditions" when the airship tests were completed. | In July, HAV revealed that it is to offer "luxury expeditions" when the airship tests were completed. |