R101 was a British rigid airship completed in 1929 as part of a government program to develop civil airships. It was the world's largest flying craft at the time of construction. In 1930, during its maiden overseas voyage, R101 crashed in France, killing 40 people onboard. The crash ended Britain's airship program and marked the end of rigid airships for passenger transport, though Germany had some success until the Hindenburg disaster in 1937.

5.  R101 was one of a pair of British rigid
airships completd in 1929 as part of a British
government programme to develop civil
airship capable of service on long distance
routes.
 It was manufacture at Royal Airship Works
and Designed by V.C. RICHMOND at a cost
of 711,595 pound.

6.  Aftet some trial flights, and subsequent
modifications to increase lifting capacity
which include lengthening the airship by
14m.
 When built it was the world’s largest flying
craft at 223m in length , and it was not
surpassed by another hydrogen-filled rigid
airship until the Hindenburg flew seven years
later.

8.  R101 crahed on 5 october 1930 in France
during its maiden overseas voyage .

9.  LIKE a great floating railway caniage, airship
R101 flew lower and lower over the northern
French countryside , causing residents of
Beauvais, near Paris, to believe she was
going to hit the church steeple.

10.  The night of October 4-5, 1930, was pitch
black, with rain and gusty winds so that
those on the ground could see only the
airship's lights. Just beyond Beauvais,
however, a poacher, Alfred Rabouille, had a
remarkable view.
 The R101 killed around 40 people with its
deploy.

11.  There was an explosion, which knocked the
little Frenchman off his feet, followed by two
more.
 A huge sheet of flame engulfed the RlOl. The
midship section collapsed.
 The great frame crumpled and, with fire
roaring through the outer cover, subsided
onto the ground.

12.  Among the RlOl's 54 passengers and crew
were Britain's Minister for Air, the Director of
Civil Aviation. the Director of Airship
Development and the chief designer of the
craft itself.
 The poacher Rabouille could hear the
trapped inmates screaming for help.

14.  The end of R101 was the end of the road for
R100 as well.
 The politicians ordered her to be broken up
and sold for scrap, before the airship
program cost the nation any more money.
 "Jump for it, lads," one of the engineers
shouted as her engine-cars. slid and scraped
along the ground.

15.  Airships, gracious and eyecatching as they
appeared in full flight, had no future in
aviation.
 The Germans had the greatest success with
them - until the giant Hindenberg blew up
while landing in America in 1937.

16.  By that time, England's Short Empire flying-
boats were crossing most of the world's
oceans, needing to make frequent stops to
refuel. but doing the job safely and efficiently.