SoylentNews

"exec" writes:

The Airlander 10—also known as the world's largest aircraft, better known as a giant, ass-shaped vessel—took off for the first time today.

The "flying bum," as it's apparently known, was supposed to take its maiden voyage on Sunday, but the flight was postponed due to "a slight technical issue." The aircraft's maker, Hybrid Air Vehicles, didn't say on Sunday when the flight would happen, but luckily for ass and aircraft enthusiasts everywhere, it finally took off from Cardington airfield near London.

The flight itself wasn't long—just half an hour, according to the AP—but apparently drew a crowd of hundreds. The 302-foot aircraft combines elements of "fixed wing aircraft and helicopters with lighter-than-air technology," resulting in a Frankenstein-esque behemoth that its creators say can stay in the air for over two weeks unmanned.

The AP says the Airlander 10 was originally created for the US military, which wanted to use it "for surveillance in Afghanistan," but the plan was axed in 2013. (It's hard to miss a giant butt.)

http://gizmodo.com/worlds-largest-aircraft-takes-off-for-the-first-time-s-1785420329

-- submitted from IRC

[Ed note: This is the world's largest aircraft, currently, but the Graf Zeppelin had nearly three times the volume.]

Original Submission