CAF UK members took the opportunity to visit the historic Cardington Hangers in Bedfordshire UK. This word renowned airship heritage hanger is a massive icon of the Bedfordshire skyline, and can be seen for miles around.
Cardington-Royal Airship Works
The airships site was nationalised in April 1919, becoming known as the Royal Airship Works.
In preparation for the R101 project the No 1 shed was extended between October 1924 and March 1926; its roof was raised by 35 feet and its length increased to 812 feet. The No. 2 shed (Southern shed), which had originally been located at RNAS Pulham, Norfolk, was dismantled in 1928 and re-erected at Cardington.
After the crash of the R101, in October 1930, all work stopped in Britain on airships. Cardington then became a storage station.
In 1936/1937 Cardington started building barrage balloons; and it became the No 1 RAF Balloon Training Unit responsible for the storage and training of balloon operators and drivers. In 1943 until 1967 it was home to the RAF Meteorological research balloons-training unit, undertaking development and storage[ (after 1967 this was undertaken by the Royal Aircraft Establishment).
CAF UK members have visited a number of worldwide Blimp and Airship sites, check out the fascinating history of the Tillamook air sheds, in Oregon State USA. One of the very few surviving examples of wooden constructed Blimp hangers in the world that is accessible to the public.
Find out more about the fascinating stories of Lighter than air craft- Airships and Blimps at the Airship heritage trust.
Tillamook Air Museum- One of the last surviving WW2 Blimp Hangers . www.tillamookair.com
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The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is a 501 (c) 3 Texas non-profit organization dedicated to flying and restoring World War II aircraft. The organization's headquarters offices are based in Dallas, Texas, at Dallas Executive Airport. At this time the organization has more than 11,000 members and has a fleet of more than 175 World War II aircraft. CAF United Kingdom is a UK based branch of the Worldwide CAF organisation.
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