Britain's Last Rigid Airships

the lost main line says: The R100 had fewer ribs than previous airships. Her outer hull rippled in flight but this did not effect her performance as her structure designed by Barnes Wallace was both light and strong.

Zeppelin aan landingsmast / Zeppelin attached to mooring mast by Nationaal Archief

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the lost main line says: The R100 crossed the Atlantic to Montreal in 1930 and successfully returned to England. After the crash of the R101 she was scrapped. Both the R100 and the R101 had a more aerodynamic shape than other contemporary airships.

Airship R100 by Owen Smithers

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the lost main line says: Innovations on the R101 included diesel engines, a steel frame, and automatic pressure release valves. In flight she was described as heavy and sluggish and her disastrous maiden flight to India went ahead without proper flight testing.

R101 on Mooring Mast by lazzo51

the lost main line says: Despite all her faults there is no doubt the R101 was a beautiful ship. After her initial problems she was lengthened to 777 feet by inserting an extra section in her hull making her at the time the largest man made object ever to fly. Her elegant dining room, lounge, and promenade deck with large viewing windows made her a far cry from today's airliners.

R101 and cows by The National Archives UK

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