 What do you get when you combine an air balloon, airplane, helicopter, and what the hell, even a hovercraft? This is the Airlander, the world's largest aircraft. Think of it as three airships in one, which means the hull itself can generate lift like a plane, and it's over 300 feet long. It has a max speed of 80 knots, or nearly 100 miles per hour. Originally developed by British company Hybrid Air Vehicles in partnership with Northrop Grumman, in June 2010 the Airlander was chosen over Lockheed Martin's P-791 for the United States Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle Project. The goal? To create an aircraft capable of staying aloft at 20,000 feet for three weeks without landing. Here it is in August 2012. When the project was canceled following U.S. defense budget cuts, Hybrid Air Vehicles bought the aircraft back for $300,000. The Airlander is currently being built, or rather rebuilt, in Britain's historical Royal Air Force Cardington hangars, where the R101 airship was built nearly a century ago. The first British flight is scheduled for later this year or early next. Already the company has plans for an even larger airship that'll be nearly 400 feet long and 200 feet wide, with the ability to land on water and room for up to 50 passengers. That's right, luxury airship cruises. Think about it.
 What do you get when you combine an air balloon, airplane, helicopter, and what the hell, even
 a hovercraft?
 This is the Airlander, the world's largest aircraft.
 Think of it as three airships in one, which means the hull itself can generate lift like
 a plane, and it's over 300 feet long.
 It has a max speed of 80 knots, or nearly 100 miles per hour.
 Originally developed by British company Hybrid Air Vehicles in partnership with Northrop
 Grumman, in June 2010 the Airlander was chosen over Lockheed Martin's P-791 for the United
 States Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle Project.
 The goal?
 To create an aircraft capable of staying aloft at 20,000 feet for three weeks without landing.
 Here it is in August 2012.
 When the project was canceled following U.S. defense budget cuts, Hybrid Air Vehicles bought
 the aircraft back for $300,000.
 The Airlander is currently being built, or rather rebuilt, in Britain's historical Royal
 Air Force Cardington hangars, where the R101 airship was built nearly a century ago.
 The first British flight is scheduled for later this year or early next.
 Already the company has plans for an even larger airship that'll be nearly 400 feet
 long and 200 feet wide, with the ability to land on water and room for up to 50 passengers.
 That's right, luxury airship cruises.
 Think about it.