The Airlander 10, the world's longest aircraft has made its maiden voyage from Cardington Airfield in Bedfordshire.  The 302-foot (92-meter) Airlander 10 rose slowly into the air from Cardington airfield, 45 miles (73 kilometers) north of London. The Airlander 10 was first developed for the US government as a surveillance aircraft but the project was shelved amid defence cutbacks. British firm Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) launched a campaign to return the Airlander 10 to the skies in May last year.   The aircraft's maiden flight was originally scheduled for Sunday, but was postponed due to a technical problem.

The Airlander, made by British company Hybrid Air Vehicles, has four engines and no internal structure. It maintains its shape thanks to the pressure of the 38,000 cubic meters of helium inside its hull, which is made from ultralight carbon fiber. The Airlander is designed to use less fuel than a plane, but carry heavier loads than conventional airships. Its developer, Hybrid Air Vehicles, says it can reach 16,000 feet (4,900 meters), travel at up to 90 mph (148 kph) and stay aloft for up to two weeks. The Airlander has a significantly lower carbon footprint than other forms of air transportation, and the team behind it hopes it will be used in a wide range of commercial jobs. They said the aircraft could carry communications equipment or other cargo, undertake search and rescue operations, or do military and commercial survey work.