Film footage of the British dirigible R101, which crashed in the early morning hours of October 5, 1930 in Beauvais, France during its first commercial flight. The crash and ensuing hydrogen fire killed 48 of the 54 passengers and crew.
The immediate cause of the accident was the deterioration of defective fabric covering the ship’s bow, but the ship was overweight, poorly designed, and insufficiently tested.
R101 was known as the “Socialist Ship,” since it was built by the British government in competition with the so-called “Capitalist Ship,” R100, built by the private firm of Vickers.
Duralumin salvaged from the wreckage of R101 was used in the construction of the Hindenburg.
More information about R101, R100, and other British airships is available at the website of the Airship Heritage Trust.
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Gentlemen / Ladies,
I have an aluminium ashtray which I am considering selling on ebay. “METAL FROM R101″ is cast into its base. It was given to me in late 1950s by the foundry manager at Laycock Engineering, Sheffield England where I was apprenticed. He told me that Laycock made the blinds for R101 and that when it crashed, some suppliers, including Laycock, were given pieces of the framework and some “puddles” of melted aluminium, as keepsakes. I understand some of this metal was also given to pan makers. There were several other virtually identical astrays around the Company, but none had the METAL FROM R101 marking. I think one might have been sold at Sotherby’s in 1999. no pic but the description fits exactly. See http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/desc-a-commemorative-r.101-ashtray,-circa-1930,-1-c-nki1suru85
Before I auction it, I just thought you fellows might be interested. Please do not hesitate to contact me for pics etc.
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