On Wednesday, three hours after the (re) scheduled flight time, Airlander took to the skies in Bedfordshire. Put it down to lack of information; lack of a sense of history; fear of a sea of intimidating lenses; lack of an easily accessible viewing point; or a sheer determination to get on with the wall-paper stripping; ashamedly I was not there.
This morning, with the day promising as excess of drizzle, plans to revisit yesterday's site in hope of a better result were quickly abandoned. So, in a burst of enthusiasm to get my bike out (prompted by the possibility of booking a holiday which involves a scary number of miles travelled by push bike) I decided to take me, my bike and my compact camera to Shortstown to see if I could capture an architectural shot and to find out whether the Airlander was still gracing the fields of Cardington.
Here is my favourite of the shots of the Grade II listed Cardington Sheds (I enjoy the little joke with the animal feeder). Shorts Brothers Engineering Company built these sheds having won the contract for construction of an Airship in 1916. Cardington became one of the world's best airship facilities and built the fated R101 with an interior décor modelled on a ship liner - to include a ballroom and dining room. In the war, kite balloons were produced in the sheds. More recently, a new lease of life was given to one of the sheds - housing the cavernous sets for Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises and Inception by Warner Bros.
And now, the sheds have been used for building airships again. Airlander is the world's longest aircraft and it is a cross between a plane and an airship. It is 92m long and should stay airborne for 5 days at a time!
I did find the Airlander in the fields adjacent to the sheds and took a few shots of it - grounded until such time as the next test flight occurs. However, today I thought I would deliver the promised architectural. To allow me a little more leeway, I'm calling my new project "man made". But I won't be able to avoid choosing nature altogether - I am more naturally drawn to it.
Great sense of scale, nice humour I think! Fascinating back stories too, to these vast buildings. You have to take and post what you enjoy, nature pix are great too! But a bit of architecture is very nice to see from the different areas our 365ers live.
Fabulous shot, brought back more memories. Have you ever been inside one of the hangars? They are amazing.
Would love to see the Airlander, but not so sure about a flight in it.
@rosiekind I didn't know you lived so close to Cardington. We lived at RAF Henlow twice during the 1980s, first time 1981-83 and second 1986-1989, then to Australia.
When I first looked at them I thought they were brand new structures but what a history they have had. Glad they are continuing to be used and maybe you'll get a photo of the Airlander next time.
Would love to see the Airlander, but not so sure about a flight in it.