Ha spiccato il suo primo volo il gigantesco Airlander, l'aeromobile più grande del mondo. Lungo ben 92 metri e alto quanto un palazzo di otto piani. Quello che viene definito come dirigibile con le componenti di un aereo e di elicottero fra cui i quattro motori a elica, ha anche una forma molto particolare, soprattutto se visto di fronte.
Pronto per spiccare il volo
L'Airlander visto da dietro
Per questo i media del Regno Unito l'hanno soprannominato impietosamente "sedere volante". L'Airlander è decollato dalla base di Cardington, nell'Inghilterra centrale, per spostarsi ad una velocità massima di 150 chilometri orari sui cieli del Bedfordshire. Un volo inaugurale durato circa mezz'ora, molto poco rispetto alla straordinaria autonomia del velivolo, che viene stimata in diversi giorni, a seconda del carico.
Velivolo gigante, hangar enorme
È soprattutto la sua capacità di trasporto massima, pari a 10 tonnellate, che potrebbe interessare eventuali acquirenti. Secondo l'amministratore delegato del costruttore Hybrid Air Vehicles, Stephen McGlennan, l'aeromobile ha grandi possibilità di utilizzo in ambito civile e militare.
ATS/Swing
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