Words by Sebastian Modak, Condé Nast Traveler
We were excited back in 2016 to hear that the Airlander 10, a 302-foot-long hybrid airship, was finally taking its first test flight. Our enthusiasm, however, was tempered when on its second flight, the largest aircraft in the world went nose first into the grass near its hangar at a U.K. airfield shortly after take-off. But today at the Farnborough Air show, Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), the aerospace company behind the airship, unveiled what the interiors of a tourist-focused Airlander could look like and, well, consider us psyched again.
The interiors—conceived in collaboration with aviation and automobile design firm Design Q—look pretty plush, but if heights aren't your thing, you might want to reconsider. The couches and bean bags look plenty comfortable, the full bar might serve as a crucial self-medicating hub, and spacious bedrooms look like they belong more in a five-star hotel than an aircraft. But—and this is where vertigo might come in—the cabin is practically covered in glass, including some of the floors, so you can really take in those views from 16,000 feet. Or, you know, have a panic attack. HAV says the Airlander 10 could carry up to 19 passengers on three-day expeditions, with full catering provided. The interior layout is also modular, too, meaning it can be customized depending on the nature of the journey.
The focus here is clearly not on getting you across the Atlantic as quickly as possible: After all, the Airlander 10 will only be able to reach a max speed of around 91 mph, falling a tad short of the Airbus A380's cruising speed of 560 mph, for example. Instead, the goal of HAV's tourism-focused, eco-friendly aircraft will be on what the company is calling "luxury expeditionary tourism." Think of it more as a cruise in the skies, where routes could showcase attractions like the Grand Canyon or the Amazon rainforest. Its ability to land and take-off anywhere, including water, opens up possibilities beyond airport-to-airport trips. "Air travel has become very much about getting from A to B as quickly as possible," HAV's CEO Stephen McGlennan told the BBC. "What we’re offering is a way of making the journey a joy.
Images: DesignQ/Airlander
