British Airship R100

The British Airship R100 was a large, helium-filled rigid airship built in the 1920s as part of a government-sponsored project to develop passenger air travel. It measured about 670 feet long, with a metal framework supporting long gasbags containing helium for lift. Designed for transatlantic flights, the R100 offered comfort and safety compared to earlier airships. It successfully traveled from Britain to Canada in 1930, demonstrating potential for passenger service. However, it was retired after the more successful R101 crash, and Britain shifted focus away from rigid airships. The R100 remains an important example of early aviation innovation.