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In the background is the inside of the control Gondola of R80, built by Vickers.
R100
R100 at the Cardington Mast. Designed by Barnes Wallace (Later of bouncing bomb/Dambusters fame) for the Airship Guarantee Company at Howden, she was privately funded. On 29th July 1930, she flew very successfully to Canada with 44 persons on board.She had a top speed of 81 miles an hour and a useful lift of 54 tons. After the crash of the under powered R101 below she was broken up.
R101
After Lengthening
R101 at the Cardington Mast after lengthening due to insufficient lift. The R101 was government funded, and built at the Royal Airship Works Cardington. Beaten to her maiden voyage by the petrol engined R100, the project was behind schedule, and consequently she was rushed into her maiden voyage to India, by the Secretary of State for Air Lord Thompson. Her diesel motors and steel construction were too heavy, and with only 35 tons, she was dangerously low on lift. Her trials were curtailed, and actually carried out on her maiden flight. She hit bad weather, it is thought that leaking gas valves, and weak outer cover contributed to her coming to earth in Beauvais in France. She hit the ground gently, several men jumped out, but she burst into flames on the ground with muck loss of life. There has never been another British Rigid.
Original press photo of the scene of the R101 disaster, at Allonne, Nr Beauvais in France on 5th October 1930