His Majesty Airship No. 1, wrecked by strong winds in 1911
On this day during on September 24, 1911, “His Majesty Airship No. 1”, Britain’s first rigid airship, is wreck by strong winds before her maiden flight at Barrow-in-Furness. When it was move from its shed in Cavendish Dock to conduct full trials, it was broke in two parts. However, His Majesty’s Airship No. 1 was never flew again and project was abandoned.
His Majesty’s Airship No. 1
His Majesty’s Airship No. 1 was design and built by Vickers, Sons and Maxim at their works in Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, England, as an aerial scout airship for the Royal Navy.
It was the first British rigid airship to be built, and was constructed in a direct attempt to compete with the German airship programme.
Often referred to as “Mayfly”, a nickname given to it by the lower deck, in public records it is designated ‘HMA Hermione’ because the naval contingent at Barrow were attached to HMS Hermione, a cruiser moored locally preparing to act as its tender.
However, its brief career provided valuable training and experimental data for British airship crews and designers.
Mayfly Contract
The contract was awarded to Vickers on May 07, 1909, with design responsibility divided between Lieutenant N. F. Usborne at the Admiralty and C. G. Robertson of Vickers.
General characteristics
- Crew: 20
- Length: 512 ft 0 in (156.06 m)
- Diameter: 46 ft 0 in (14.02 m)
- Volume: 660,000 cu ft (19,000 m3)
- Empty weight: 44,000 lb (19,958 kg)
- Useful lift: 48,000 lb (22,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Wolseley 160 hp (each driving 2 propellers), 147 hp (110 kW) each
Performance
- Cruise speed: 42 mph (68 km/h, 36 kn)
- Range: 1,090 mi (1,750 km, 950 nmi)
- Endurance: 24 hours
- Service ceiling: 1,500 ft (460 m)
