Martin Wickens

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The book goes from talking about the R101 airship, then diverts to a mini-biography about someone involved, then back to the airship. It’s a clever technique, but this time round it didn’t work for me.

The history of airships seems small in some ways, but at the time they were massive – both literally and symbolically. Their potential seemed limitless, despite the many who died as they so-often burst into flames.

The Germans, as did other nations, thought they could be used as weapons to conquer the world. The British thought airships would be the means of re-uniting a drifting and ailing empire.

In the end, they were a flawed idea. Something that can so easily and instantly and completely burst into flames is inherently flawed.

The R101 was the worst of many terrible tragedies involving airships.

Most interesting to me was the human failings as they were all avoidable and often came down to simple matters of carnality.

One key figure was an habitual drunk. It was known. But his position and prestige cowered anyone from mentioning it and having him removed from his position of authority.

Many were simply proud. They were British. The rulers of the world. They couldn’t conceive of failure and refused to admit reality.

Another key figure was chasing both a woman and the position of ruling India – a position in it’s day that was granted by the British government and one of the most powerful in the world. To get the girl he had to get India. To get India he had to make the R101 a success, if only once.

Within the story of the airships there is heroism, unrealized potential, and incredible design and engineering developments and discoveries. But, they failed as they are an inherently flawed idea and were coupled with the hubris of men.

However, it is fun to think of what could have been. If the skies had been conquered by airships instead of airplanes, the world would be a much different place.