Airlander 10, 'The Flying Bum,' Crashes During Test Flight

Bum-bum-bum-bum.... bummmmmmm.
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Airlander 10, a massive aircraft that critics said looked like a giant, flying butt, crashed after its second test flight in Bedfordshire, England, on Wednesday.

No one was injured in the incident.

“The Airlander experienced a heavy landing and the front of the flight deck has sustained some damage which is currently being assessed,” Hybrid Air Vehicles, the company developing the aircraft, said in a statement.

“The flight went really well and the only issue was when it landed,” a company spokesperson to the BBC.

The Airlander 10 seen after crashing during its second test flight.
The Airlander 10 seen after crashing during its second test flight.
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

At 302 feet long, the Airlander 10 is 50 feet longer than the largest configuration of the Boeing 747. However, it’s also been nicknamed “The Flying Bum” by the British media because it looks as much like a derriere as it does a dirigible:

Airlander 10, seen during its first test flight on Aug. 17, 2016.
Airlander 10, seen during its first test flight on Aug. 17, 2016.
Darren Staples / Reuters

Originally developed by the U.S. military, Airlander 10 combined “the best characteristics of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters with lighter-than-air technology,” the company said.

The Airlander can fly for five days with a crew, and up to two weeks if unmanned. It can handle communication, carry cargo and perform surveys for military and commercial purposes.

No timetable for repairs or future flights was announced.

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