Cardington Chronicles No 15 Jan 16 | Page 8

many applications. To see the new airship taking shape at Cardington is very exciting, an extraordinary combination of proud history and new science. I wish the next phase very well indeed, with all that it means for a fast-developing hub of new science, jobs and research in the area." Another award of €2.5 million was awarded by Horizon 2020, in recognition of Airlander’s fuel use being one third that of an equivalent conventional airplane and its lesser reliance on existing infrastructure. This European grant addresses the transitional requirements of civil regulation through EASA. In March 2015, HAV launched a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign, with a staggering £2.4 8 million raised in two months and 983 shareholders from across the globe welcomed to the company. On the 5th of May 2015, Hybrid Air Vehicles officially launched the Airlander 10 Return to Flight (RTF) Programme. The event marked not only the end of a significant period of fundraising, planning and preparation, not least of which was securing a highly talented core